Traffic Safety Resources

The Traffic Safety Program is designed to improve North Carolina prosecutor’s ability to effectively prosecute DWI, Vehicular Homicide and other traffic cases. The Conference strives to serve as a resource by providing consistent training and technical assistance in these areas. Under the direction of the Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor (TSRP) and with the assistance of a Traffic Safety Legal Assistant and numerous other resources throughout the state and nation, the Conference provides a DWI Prosecutor’s manual, case law updates, monthly training for prosecutors and law enforcement, a quarterly newsletter “For the Record” and various other forms of technical assistance for the prosecutors of North Carolina. Your TSRP serves as a liaison with law enforcement, other members of the traffic safety community, advocacy groups, community and civic organizations throughout the state. These resources are made possible by a grant from the North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program. Please feel free to contact your TSRP with any questions you may have.

North Carolina Traffic Law Forum 
Join our online forum, “NC Traffic Law”, designed to improve communication, gain knowledge and share hard work among prosecutors and law enforcement about traffic safety violations, particularly Driving While Intoxicated, Vehicular Homicide, and Vehicle crashes involving personal injuries.

This forum will allow discourse across North Carolina on issues that come up in this complex area of law and criminal procedure. As an added benefit, this forum will enable the Conference of District Attorneys to identify areas of training needed for prosecutors and law enforcement across the State.

To join enter your work email address into the box at the bottom of this page, press "Submit" and follow any instructions given. The group administrator will contact you shortly and add you to the forum. We as a group can stay ahead of the curve on what is here and now on the streets and the courtrooms, enabling to adapt and modify our training to meet the needs of North Carolina Traffic Safety.

North Carolina Drug Recognition Expert Training 
The Forensic Tests for Alcohol (FTA) Branch presently offers law enforcement the opportunity for “Drug Recognition Expert” (DRE) training and certification.  This specialized training will greatly enhance the officer's knowledge, skills and abilities to detect and apprehend the “drug” impaired driver.

The Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) and Drug Evaluation and Classification Program provides the law enforcement officer with knowledge, skills and abilities which enable him/her to determine whether or not a driver is impaired by alcohol and/or drugs and, if so, what category of drug. Combining basic medical knowledge about the drug pharmacokinetics with validated psychomotor tests allows the officer to form an opinion. With these newfound skills, the DRE will be able to articulate the method and severity of drug impairment in court for the state prosecutor.

For more information about Drug Recognition Expert training or the Forensic Tests for Alcohol’s Drug Evaluation and Classification Program, please view FTA’s handout on the DRE program.

For requirements on becoming a Drug Recognition Expert, please view FTA’s handout on DRE Requirements.

For a list of Drug Recognition Experts in North Carolina, please view our List of DRE’s.