Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE)

Course Overview

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

Schedule and Location

The course runs from Tuesday, October 13, 2026, through Wednesday, October 14, 2026, from 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. at the Connecticut Police Academy, located at 285 Preston Avenue, Meriden, Connecticut 06450.

Prerequisites

Participants must have previously completed and passed a NHTSA/IACP-approved Standardized Field Sobriety Tests training course that included practical wet lab instruction.

Course Content

Students will receive refresher training on standardized field sobriety tests and must demonstrate proficiency in front of an instructor to proceed. The curriculum focuses on drug-impaired driving while also covering alcohol impairment and combined substance effects. Participants will gain foundational knowledge about seven drug categories and how these substances affect the human body. The course emphasizes techniques for observing, identifying, and documenting signs of impairment related to drugs, alcohol, or both. Additionally, instruction covers medical conditions and other factors that may mimic signs of impairment, the significance of eye examination findings in identifying drug impairment categories, recent developments in sobriety testing procedures, and legal considerations including pre- and post-arrest protocols. The program also promotes the utilization of Drug Recognition Experts throughout Connecticut.

Requirements and Logistics

Class enrollment is capped at thirty-four participants. Registration must be completed through the Acadis portal by Tuesday, September 22, 2026. A laptop is required to access course materials; participants should bring their own. There is no tuition cost. Lunch is available for purchase at nearby restaurants. The uniform dress code specified in POST General Notice 23-02 applies to all participants.

For additional information, contact the Field Services Training Division at 203-427-2625.