Under the guidelines listed in the IACP International Standards for the DEC Program, the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety is responsible for designating the DRE state coordinator. The selection may be made by the individual Governor’s Highway Safety Representative or by any means approved by the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety.

Qualifications to be a DRE state coordinator vary from state to state and are dependent upon the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. It is not a requirement that the state coordinator be a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) or has DRE background. However, some states have adopted this standard to ensure that the DRE state understands and is familiar with the DRE process, program and requirements. In addition, the state coordinator does not have to be a sworn law enforcement officer, unless directed by the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety.

The DRE must coordinator must ensure that the DEC program is properly and effectively administered. The state coordinator must be able to work in partnership with federal, state, and local groups and organizations. The state coordinator should also be familiar with:

1. IACP Drug Evaluation and Classification (DEC) program International Standards
2. IACP Drug Recognition Expert training curriculum
3. IACP/NHTSA Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST) curriculum
4. Key state and national impaired driving enforcement issues
5. Federal, state and local laws, regulations and court decisions related to and effecting impaired driving enforcement and prosecution
6. State and local toxicology guidelines and drug testing procedures
7. State training requirements and guidelines for police officers
8. IACP DRE Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) and its role
9. IACP DRE regional procedures and concept
10. Traffic safety grants and reporting procedures