What occurs during the Pre-arrest Screening phase?

During the Pre-arrest Screening phase, formal tests to determine impairment are conducted. This phase is critical as it involves assessing whether a driver shows signs of intoxication. These formal tests can include standardized field sobriety tests, which are designed to evaluate a person’s coordination and balance.

The emphasis during this phase is on gathering evidence that supports the officer's suspicion of impaired driving. Completing these tests allows law enforcement to establish whether a reasonable suspicion exists for making an arrest for driving while intoxicated.

In contrast, the other choices represent different aspects of police procedures. Observations of the vehicle in motion typically occur before any direct contact with the suspect and help establish probable cause. Initial contact involves the interaction between the officer and the driver but does not inherently include formal testing for impairment. Issuing traffic citations occurs after assessing the situation, often for infractions unrelated to intoxication, and is a separate action from the evaluation of impairment itself. Therefore, the formal tests during the Pre-arrest Screening are central to determining whether further action, such as an arrest, is warranted.