What behavior might a police officer look for as an indicator of potential intoxication?

A police officer would typically look for erratic driving or traffic violations as key indicators of potential intoxication because such behaviors often signal a lack of control or impaired decision-making commonly associated with alcohol or drug use. Erratic driving can manifest as swerving between lanes, sudden speed fluctuations, or improper signaling, which reflect an inability to operate the vehicle safely. Observing these actions raises reasonable suspicion and prompts the officer to intervene, potentially leading to further investigation.

While excessive speed without stopping and driving with headlights off at night can also suggest impairment, they are less direct indicators of intoxication. Repeated stops at the same location, though potentially suspicious, are not universally indicative of impaired driving behavior and may pertain to completely lawful situations, such as waiting for a passenger. Hence, erratic driving provides the clearest evidence of possible intoxication, prompting an officer to conduct further evaluations.