Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE)

Course Overview

The Police Officer Standards and Training Council's Field Services Training Division, collaborating with the Department of Transportation's Highway Safety Office, is conducting a comprehensive two-day training program focused on Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement. This intensive seminar combines foundational knowledge with practical skills development for law enforcement personnel.

Schedule and Location

The training takes place from Tuesday, December 15, 2026, through Wednesday, December 16, 2026, running from 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. Classes will be held at the Hartford Police Academy, located at 50 Williams Street, Hartford, 06103.

Prerequisites

Participants must have successfully completed a NHTSA/IACP approved Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFST) training program that included a wet lab component prior to enrollment.

Program Content and Development

The ARIDE curriculum was created by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in partnership with the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Technical Advisory Panel. While emphasizing drug-impaired driving detection, the program includes a comprehensive SFST review where participants must demonstrate proficiency before an instructor. Passing this assessment is mandatory to advance through the course.

The training bridges the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests program and the Drug Evaluation and Classification program by equipping officers with practical knowledge about drug impairment while encouraging the utilization of Drug Recognition Experts throughout Connecticut. Attendees receive an overview of seven drug categories and examine the physiological consequences of each on the human body. The program teaches officers to recognize, identify, and document indicators of impairment from drugs, alcohol, or combinations thereof. The curriculum also addresses medical conditions and other factors that may mimic impairment signs, discusses the significance of eye examinations in identifying potential drug categories, covers recent advances in SFST methodology, and explores legal considerations and arrest procedures.

Course Requirements

A laptop computer is necessary to access course materials. Participants should bring their own device. Class size is capped at thirty-four attendees. Registration through the Acadis portal must be completed by the close of business on Tuesday, November 24, 2026. For additional information, contact the Field Services Training Division at 203-427-2625.

Tuition and Logistics

This course carries no tuition cost. Lunch options are available for purchase at nearby restaurants. The uniform Dress Code outlined in POST In-Service training General Notice 23-02 will be enforced, and training supervisors are requested to ensure assigned personnel understand this requirement.