PART IIPrincipal Road Safety Provisions
Motor vehicles: drink and drugs
F1Preliminary impairment testC117B
1
A preliminary impairment test is a procedure whereby the constable administering the test–
a
observes the person to whom the test is administered in his performance of tasks specified by the constable, and
b
makes such other observations of the person's physical state as the constable thinks expedient.
2
The Secretary of State shall issue (and may from time to time revise) a code of practice about–
a
the kind of task that may be specified for the purpose of a preliminary impairment test,
b
the kind of observation of physical state that may be made in the course of a preliminary impairment test,
c
the manner in which a preliminary impairment test should be administered, and
d
the inferences that may be drawn from observations made in the course of a preliminary impairment test.
3
In issuing or revising the code of practice the Secretary of State shall aim to ensure that a preliminary impairment test is designed to indicate–
a
whether a person is unfit to drive, and
b
if he is, whether or not his unfitness is likely to be due to drink or drugs.
4
A preliminary impairment test may be administered–
a
at or near the place where the requirement to co-operate with the test is imposed, or
b
if the constable who imposes the requirement thinks it expedient, at a police station specified by him.
5
A constable administering a preliminary impairment test shall have regard to the code of practice under this Article.
6
A constable may administer a preliminary impairment test only if he is approved for that purpose by the Chief Constable.
7
A code of practice under this Article may include provision about–
a
the giving of approval under paragraph (6), and
b
in particular, the kind of training that a constable should have undergone, or the kind of qualification that a constable should possess, before being approved under that paragraph.