Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE)

Course Overview: The Connecticut Police Officer Standards and Training Council's Field Services Training Division, in partnership with the Department of Transportation's Highway Safety Office, is providing a comprehensive two-day training seminar on Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement. Developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in collaboration with the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Technical Advisory Panel, this program bridges the gap between standardized field sobriety testing and drug evaluation training.

Dates & Time: Tuesday, December 8, 2026, through Wednesday, December 9, 2026, from 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.

Location: Connecticut Police Academy, 285 Preston Avenue, Meriden, Connecticut 06450

Prerequisites: Candidates must have previously attended and successfully completed a NHTSA/IACP approved Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFST) training course that included a wet lab component.

Course Content: While the primary focus is on drug-impaired driving enforcement, participants will review standardized field sobriety tests and must demonstrate proficiency in front of an instructor. The curriculum covers the seven drug categories and their physiological effects on the body, teaching officers how to observe, identify, and document indicators of impairment from drugs, alcohol, or combinations thereof. Instruction includes examination of medical conditions and other factors that may mimic impairment signs, the role of eye examinations in identifying drug impairment and potential drug categories, current updates in SFST methodology, and legal considerations surrounding impaired driving, pre-arrest procedures, and post-arrest protocols.

Tuition: There is no tuition cost for this course. Lunch may be purchased at local restaurants.

Technical Requirements: A laptop is required to access course materials; participants must bring their own device.

Class Size & Registration: The class is limited to thirty-four attendees. Interested officers must complete a registration form through the Acadis portal by Tuesday, November 17, 2026. For questions, contact the Field Services Training Division at 203-427-2625.

Dress Code: The uniform dress code for POST In-Service training as outlined in General Notice 23-02 will be in effect.