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 North Dakota, when a car crash or other incident involving multiple vehicles occurs, law enforcement officers have the authority to investigate all drivers involved for potential intoxication or impairment due to alcohol or drugs. This means that the police are not restricted to investigating only the driver who appears to be at fault for the accident. If there is reasonable suspicion or probable cause to believe that any of the drivers are under the influence, the police can conduct field sobriety tests, administer breathalyzer tests, or take other appropriate actions to determine if a driver is impaired. If a driver is found to be under the influence, they can be arrested and charged with Driving Under the Influence (DUI) or a related offense, regardless of their role in the accident. North Dakota's DUI laws are codified in North Dakota Century Code (NDCC) 39-08-01 and related statutes.