DWI evidence is predominantly which type of data?

The correct choice regarding DWI evidence being predominantly sensory data captures the nature of the information that officers and investigators rely upon when assessing impairment. Sensory data encompasses the use of the five senses—sight, hearing, smell, touch, and sometimes even taste—to perceive behaviors and conditions indicative of driving while intoxicated.

For example, visual observations of an individual's physical behavior, such as swaying, difficulty maintaining balance, or bloodshot eyes, fall under sensory data. Additionally, an officer’s ability to detect the odor of alcohol or drugs contributes to sensory evidence. Auditory reports, while they may provide some information, are more narrow in scope and do not encompass the entirety of how an officer assesses impairment. Similarly, physical documentation, such as breathalyzer results or blood tests, is important for confirming impairment but is part of a broader assessment that includes sensory perceptions. Therefore, when considering the predominant type of data in DWI evidence, sensory data is the most comprehensive category that reflects the observations and assessments made during the field sobriety testing process.