Bartholomew told KJAN News there are six DRE Regions (including the Iowa State Patrol, which has it’s own region). The award is given to the DRE who has the most evaluations for impaired drivers, over the past year. This past year, Deputy Bartholomew had 43 interdiction’s, which he says is the same as last year, but nearly twice as much as he had during his 1^st year as a DRE 5 years ago, when there were 23. The 43 interventions in each of the past two-years was also the second highest in the State.

Bartholomew described what the duties of a DRE are: He says it’s his responsibility to determine the level of impairment and what type of substance is causing it. He says while there are the usual impairments by illegal drugs like marijuana and meth, there’s been an increase in the number of “Poly-drug” drivers. That’s a person who is impaired by more than one drug. A combination of drugs causes different reactions in a person that makes it interesting for the DRE to observe.

He says taking more than one drug in the same day or within a few hours, it can cause a person’s reactions and health to take drastic turns. “Bart” as he’s known, credits his and his fellow law enforcement officers’ efforts in getting impaired drivers and others off the road. He says it’s a team effort to try and make the roads safe for other motorists.