Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE)

Overview: The Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, through its Police Officer Standards and Training Council, is partnering with the Department of Transportation's Highway Safety Office to present this specialized two-day training program. Developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in collaboration with the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Technical Advisory Panel, ARIDE bridges the gap between basic sobriety testing and advanced drug evaluation training.

Course Focus: While ARIDE emphasizes drug-impaired driving detection, participants will review and demonstrate proficiency with Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, which is mandatory to proceed. The curriculum covers the seven major drug categories and their physiological effects on the human body, teaching officers how to observe, recognize, and document signs of impairment caused by drugs, alcohol, or combined substances. The course also explores medical and other conditions that may mimic impairment symptoms, the significance of eye examinations in identifying drug categories, current SFST methodology, and legal considerations surrounding impaired driving enforcement including pre- and post-arrest protocols.

Dates & Location: Tuesday, November 24, 2026 through Wednesday, November 25, 2026, from 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. at the Connecticut Police Academy, 285 Preston Avenue, Meriden, Connecticut 06450.

Prerequisites: Candidates must have successfully completed a NHTSA/IACP-approved Standardized Field Sobriety Tests training that included a wet lab component.

Cost: No tuition is required. Lunch may be obtained at nearby restaurants.

Enrollment: Class size is limited to 34 participants. Registration must be completed through the Acadis portal by Tuesday, November 3, 2026. For questions, contact the Field Services Training Division at 203-427-2625.

Requirements: A laptop is required to access course materials; participants should bring their own device. The uniform Dress Code for POST In-Service training as outlined in General Notice 23-02 will be enforced.