BOZEMAN, MT — While alcohol-related DUIs have long been a primary concern for law enforcement, a growing number of impaired driving cases in Bozeman now involve substances beyond alcohol. Officers in the area are seeing a significant increase in drivers under the influence of drugs, including marijuana, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and heroin.
Captain Hal Richardson of the Bozeman Police Department, with 19 years of experience, said that as the city has expanded, so too has its rate of DUIs. “We never know exactly if we have a DUI when we pull the vehicle over,” Richardson noted. “Vehicles will get pulled over for traffic violations, like weaving in and out of lanes or careless driving, but officers don’t always know right away if the driver is impaired by alcohol or something else.”
Richardson emphasized that traffic stops, while common, are never truly routine. “We don’t like to use the term ‘routine traffic stop’ because none of them are really routine,” he said.
Deputy Collin Kiewatt, a patrol officer with the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, outlined the process that leads to a DUI charge. He explained that there are three key steps: the traffic stop, the officer’s interaction with the driver, and the field sobriety tests.
Kiewatt explained the common field sobriety tests that officers use, including the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (a test where officers assess eye movements), the walk-and-turn test, and the one-leg stand. These are standard tests used across the U.S. to determine impairment.
If a driver is suspected of impairment, officers may request a breath test. However, as Captain Richardson pointed out, even if the breath test registers a zero for alcohol, officers are trained to consider other substances that could be impairing the driver. “If they blow zeros, the next thing the officer would be thinking about is, are they impaired by something other than alcohol?” he said.
Drug use has become a significant factor in DUI cases. Deputy Kiewatt estimated that about 25% of DUI arrests now involve drugs, such as methamphetamine, amphetamines, fentanyl, and heroin. He noted that blood tests are often used to detect these substances, which can remain in the system longer than alcohol.
One notable trend is the increasing prevalence of marijuana-related DUIs since the legalization of recreational marijuana in Montana in 2021. Kiewatt observed that more drivers are testing positive for THC, the main psychoactive component in marijuana. “Under the influence of marijuana, you tend to feel different, eat different, listen to music different. You also drive different,” Kiewatt explained.
While marijuana was legalized for recreational use in Montana, the law enforcement community has been working to keep up with the implications for impaired driving. Officers are receiving ongoing training to identify the signs of marijuana impairment and to navigate the complexities of testing for THC.
As marijuana use continues to rise in the state, law enforcement agencies are adapting their approach to impaired driving. The challenges go beyond alcohol, with officers now needing to be more attuned to a broader range of substances that can affect a person’s ability to drive safely.
The shift in the nature of DUIs reflects larger trends in drug use, and authorities in Bozeman are taking steps to ensure that they can effectively address the evolving landscape of impaired driving. As Richardson put it, “We’re not just looking for people driving drunk anymore. We’re looking for people who are impaired by any number of substances.”
With the continuing growth of Bozeman and changing drug use patterns, local law enforcement is preparing for more challenges in keeping the streets safe from impaired drivers.
