In a car crash or other incident involving multiple vehicles the police may investigate whether the driver of any of the vehicles is under the influence of or intoxicated by alcohol or drugs, and are not limited to investigating and arresting only the driver who was at fault in the accident, for example.
In Montana, as in other states, law enforcement officers have the authority to investigate any driver involved in a car crash for driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs, regardless of who is at fault for the accident. This means that if the police arrive at the scene of a multi-vehicle incident, they can conduct field sobriety tests, breathalyzer tests, or other assessments on any of the drivers if there is reasonable suspicion that they may be impaired. If a driver is found to be under the influence, they can be arrested and charged with DUI. Montana's DUI laws are codified in Title 61, Chapter 8, Part 4 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA). These laws apply to all drivers on Montana roads, and the penalties for DUI can include fines, license suspension, and even jail time, depending on the severity of the offense and the driver's prior record.