A Training Option Bridging the Gap
between SFST and DRE
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The Advanced Roadside Impaired
Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) program
was developed by the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
with input from the International
Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP),
Technical Advisory Panel (TAP), and the
Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police.
ARIDE was created to address the gap
in training between the Standardized
Field Sobriety Testing (SFST) and the
Drug Evaluation and Classification
(DEC) Program.
The SFST program trains officers to
identifyand assess drivers suspected
of being under the influence of alcohol,
while the DEC Program provides more
advanced training to evaluate suspected
drug impairment. The SFST assessment
is typically employed at roadside, while
an officer trained as a drug recognition
expert (DRE) through the DEC Program
conducts a drug evaluation in a more controlled environment such as a
detention facility.
ARIDE is intended to bridge the
gap between these two programs
by providing officers with general
knowledge related to drug impairment
and by promoting the use of DREs in
states that have the DEC Program. One
of the more significant aspects of
ARIDE is its review and required student
demonstration of the SFST proficiency
requirements. The ARIDE program also
stresses the importance of securing the
most appropriate biological sample in
order to identify substances likely
causing impairment.
ARIDE is a 16-hour training course and
may be taught by DREs, DRE instructors
or SFST instructors, who are also DREs.
The training will be conducted under
the control and approval of the DEC
Program state coordinator.
On June 3-4, 2009, the Michigan
State Police with the assistance of the
Prosecuting Attorneys Association of
Michigan conducted the first ARIDE
Program for the State of Michigan.
Twenty-three law enforcement officers
and prosecuting attorneys attended.
There are two future classes scheduled
for later this summer. If you are a
prosecuting attorney who is interested
in attending or sending one of your
assistant prosecuting attorneys, please
contact Kenneth Stecker, Traffic Safety
ResourceProsecutor for the Prosecuting
Attorneys Association of Michigan.
There is NO registration fee! The
program is provided through grant
funds from the Office of Highway Safety
Planning and administered by the
Michigan State Police.
