Training Courses

Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE)

Date & Time:
  • January 20, 2027 – January 21, 2027
Location:
285 Preston Avenue, Meriden, CT 06450

The Connecticut Police Officer Standards and Training Council's Field Services Training Division, working in collaboration with the Department of Transportation's Highway Safety Office, offers an intensive two-day training program called Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE). The course is scheduled to run from Wednesday, January 20, 2027 through Thursday, January 21, 2027, with sessions held daily from 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. at the Connecticut Police Academy located at 285 Preston Avenue in Meriden, Connecticut 06450.

Developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in partnership with the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the Technical Advisory Panel (TAP), this program concentrates on drug-impaired driving enforcement. While the curriculum includes a thorough review of Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs), all students must demonstrate their mastery of these techniques in front of an instructor and successfully pass a proficiency examination to advance in the course.

The course bridges the gap between the foundational SFST program, which equips officers to identify and evaluate drivers suspected of alcohol impairment, and the more advanced Drug Evaluation and Classification (DEC) program used to assess suspected drug impairment. By completing ARIDE, officers gain essential knowledge about drug impairment and are introduced to the value of Drug Recognition Experts (DREs) throughout Connecticut. Participants receive a comprehensive overview of seven distinct drug categories and learn how these substances affect the human body physiologically. The training teaches officers to recognize, document, and explain visible indicators of impairment stemming from drugs, alcohol, or combinations thereof. Additionally, students examine medical and other conditions that may mimic signs of impairment, explore the diagnostic value of eye examinations in revealing possible drug use and drug categories, and review the latest developments in SFST methodology. The curriculum also covers legal considerations in impaired driving cases as well as procedures that apply before and after arrest.

Prior to attending, participants must have successfully completed a NHTSA/IACP approved Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFST) training course that incorporated a wet lab component.

Class enrollment is capped at thirty-four (34) participants. Registration must be submitted through the Acadis portal no later than Wednesday, December 30, 2026. For additional information or questions, reach out to the Field Services Training Division at post.fieldservices@ct.gov.

This course carries no tuition fee. Meals are available for purchase at nearby restaurants. The uniform dress code specified in POST In-Service Training General Notice 23-02 is mandatory. Training supervisors are asked to ensure that all assigned personnel are informed of the dress code requirements.

Attendees will need to bring their own laptop computer to access course materials during the training.

Training Credit Hours

  • Area 610 Impaired Driving (13 hours)