DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST)

This comprehensive 24-hour course prepares law enforcement professionals to effectively identify and assess impaired drivers, beginning with initial vehicle observations through arrest and suspect processing procedures.

The curriculum combines National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) standardized sobriety testing procedures with practical enforcement strategies. Participants will develop proficiency in recognizing impaired driving indicators, conducting field sobriety evaluations, and documenting observations for courtroom testimony. The training also addresses critical legal considerations including Miranda rights and implied consent statutes, along with protocols for sobriety checkpoints and video evidence management.

Course Topics

• DUI visual detection techniques
• Legal aspects of DUI enforcement
• Standardized field sobriety testing, including horizontal gaze nystagmus evaluation
• Proper documentation and reporting procedures
• Sobriety checkpoints and roadblock operations
• Video evidence considerations
• Two NHTSA recommended drinking exercises

Intended Audience

This training is designed for patrol officers, DUI investigators, supervisors, and prosecuting attorneys. The course is restricted to active, sworn law enforcement personnel and prosecuting attorneys employed by governmental agencies. Florida law enforcement officers may qualify for grant-funded tuition assistance through the Florida Department of Transportation.

Course Details

Duration: 24 hours
Class Times: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Cost: $695.00 (Grant-funded sessions available at no cost for eligible Florida officers)
Provider: Institute of Police Technology and Management

Multiple sessions are scheduled at various Florida locations throughout 2026 and 2027, including Port Richey, South Miami, Orlando, Cocoa, Ocala, Sarasota, Stuart, and Marathon.