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 Vermont, 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. If an officer has reasonable grounds to believe that a driver is impaired, they can conduct field sobriety tests, administer breathalyzer tests, or take other measures to determine intoxication levels. Vermont's DUI laws, found in Title 23, Chapter 13 of the Vermont Statutes, do not limit the investigation or arrest to only the at-fault driver. Any driver showing signs of impairment can be subject to investigation and potential arrest for DUI, which can lead to criminal charges and administrative penalties such as license suspension.