Training Courses

Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE)

Date & Time:
  • April 13, 2027 – April 14, 2027
Location:
285 Preston Avenue, Meriden, CT 06450

Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE)

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 two-day training seminar designed to help officers understand and identify drug-impaired driving. The program runs on Tuesday, April 13, 2027, through Wednesday, April 14, 2027, from 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. each day at the Connecticut Police Academy, located at 285 Preston Avenue, Meriden, 06450.

Developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) with guidance from the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the Technical Advisory Panel (TAP), this course bridges the gap between the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFST) program and the Drug Evaluation and Classification (DEC) program. While participants will review SFST procedures and must demonstrate proficiency to an instructor to continue in the course, the primary focus is on recognizing signs of drug impairment.

Throughout the training, officers will gain an understanding of seven drug categories and how these substances affect the human body. Instruction covers techniques for observing, identifying, and articulating indicators of impairment from drugs, alcohol, or a combination of both. The course also addresses medical conditions and other circumstances that may mimic impairment signs, the importance of eye examinations in detecting possible drug use, and the significance of Drug Recognition Experts (DREs) in Connecticut. Additional topics include recent developments in SFST testing, legal considerations surrounding impaired driving, and procedures before and after arrest.

Participants must have successfully completed a NHTSA/IACP-approved SFST training course that included a wet lab component. A personal laptop is required to access course materials. The class is capped at thirty-four attendees, and interested individuals should complete a registration form through the Acadis portal by Tuesday, March 23, 2027. For inquiries, contact the Field Services Training Division at post.fieldservices@ct.gov.

There is no tuition cost for this course. Lunch may be obtained at nearby restaurants, and the uniform dress code specified in POST General Notice 23-02 will be enforced.

Training Credit Hours

  • Area 610 Impaired Driving (13 hours)