Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement

This comprehensive 16-hour training program serves as an important bridge connecting the foundational SFST course to the advanced DRE curriculum. Participants will develop the skills necessary to recognize, document, and communicate observations regarding signs of drug and alcohol impairment or combinations thereof.

The course provides an in-depth exploration of seven major drug categories and their physiological effects on the human body. Attendees will also examine medical conditions and other factors that may produce impairment-like symptoms. Special emphasis is placed on the value of ocular examinations as a tool for identifying potential drug impairment and narrowing the possible categories of substances involved.

Instruction covers the most current approaches to administering Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, along with a thorough review of the legal framework surrounding impaired driving cases and the procedures law enforcement must follow both before and after arrest.

Topics Covered

• Understanding the concept of drugs in the context of DWI enforcement
• The significance of eye examinations in identifying impairment
• Medical and other conditions that mimic impairment symptoms
• Recognition and classification of major drug categories
• Observable and physiological effects of the seven major drug categories
• Effects resulting from polydrug use
• Proper procedures for managing drug-impaired and medically-impaired individuals
• Current Standardized Field Sobriety Test protocols
• Legal considerations in impaired driving enforcement
• Pre-arrest and post-arrest procedures

Intended Audience

This course is designed for patrol officers, DUI investigators and their supervisors, prosecuting attorneys, and individuals pursuing Drug Recognition Expert credentials.

Enrollment 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 support through the Florida Department of Transportation for certain sessions. Note that federal and military law enforcement personnel in Florida are not eligible for grant-funded seats.

Prerequisites

Participants must have successfully completed the IACP/NHTSA National DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing program or an equivalent course. Additionally, attendees must demonstrate competency in administering the Standardized Field Sobriety Testing battery. Students are permitted up to two attempts to meet the proficiency requirement.

Important Note

While this course covers valuable material on drugs affecting driving and includes the former 8-hour Drugs That Impair Driving curriculum, completion does not qualify an officer to function as a Drug Recognition Expert.

Course Details

Duration: 16 hours
Class Times: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Tuition: $495.00 (grant-funded sessions may be available at no cost for eligible Florida law enforcement officers)

Scheduled Sessions

Port Richey: November 5-6, 2026 at Port Richey Police Department, 6333 Ridge Road, Port Richey, FL 34668

South Miami: December 10-11, 2026 at South Miami Police Department Training Center, 5825 Southwest 68th Street, Suite 3, South Miami, FL 33143

Orlando: December 10-11, 2026 at Orange County Sheriff's Office, 2500 West Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL 32804

Cocoa: January 14-15, 2027 at Florida Highway Patrol - Cocoa, 3775 West King Street, Cocoa, FL 32926 (Instructors: Anthony Palese, Channing Taylor)

Ocala: January 28-29, 2027 at Marion County Emergency Operations Center, 692 Northwest 30th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34475

Sarasota: February 4-5, 2027 at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, 6000 Rick Piccolo Circle, Sarasota, FL 34243

Stuart: April 1-2, 2027 at Stuart Police Department Emergency Operations Center, 830 Southeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Stuart, FL 34994

Marathon: April 15-16, 2027 at Monroe County Sheriff's Office Aviation Hangar, 10100 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050