---
title: "What is a DRE in a Rhode Island prescription drug DUI case?"
description: "A Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) is a specially trained officer who runs a 12-step evaluation to identify what category of drug caused impairment. The evaluation includes pulse, blood pressure, pupil..."
url: https://riduiguy.com/faq-items/what-is-a-dre-in-a-rhode-island-prescription-drug-dui-case/
date: 2026-05-23
modified: 2026-05-23
author: "The RI DUI Guy"
type: faq
lang: en
---

# What is a DRE in a Rhode Island prescription drug DUI case?

A Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) is a specially trained officer who runs a 12-step evaluation to identify what category of drug caused impairment. The evaluation includes pulse, blood pressure, pupil size, muscle tone, and physical coordination tests. The 12-step protocol is technical and often scored incorrectly, making the DRE worksheet a defense challenge point.

What is a DRE in a Rhode Island prescription drug DUI case?(https://riduiguy.com/author/riduiguy/)2026-05-23T02:25:19-04:00