Delaware adds more officers to Drug Recognition Expert program

Delaware's Office of Highway Safety will continue to expand its Drug Recognition Expert program.

Right now there are 23 officers that are DRE certified working within the state's program. They added nine officers just this after months of training.

The program is designed to detect impaired drivers under the influence of drugs.

When police officers pull over someone who they believe is under the influence but passes a breathalyzer test, they contact a DRE officer, who then evaluates the driver.

"So these drug recognition experts can come out and look at the situation and determine what the person is impaired from, so we see a growing trend of drug driving impairment and so these officers are able to respond to that," says Deputy Director for Highway Safety, Kim Chessner.

Highway Safety is hoping to continue to grow the program as just last year they increased their enforcement evaluations by 47 percent.