Course Description

This intensive 24-hour training course is designed to equip law enforcement officers with the essential skills and knowledge for effective Driving While Impaired (DWI) enforcement. This program, aligned with International Standards of the SFST program developed by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), is grounded in the principle that robust DWI enforcement serves as a critical deterrent to impaired driving and enhances community safety. The core purpose of this course is to empower officers to improve DWI detection, increase lawful arrests, and secure successful prosecutions. By instilling a clear understanding of DWI detection process and reinforcing the risk of apprehension, this training directly contributes to reducing impaired driving incidents, traffic crashes, and associated injuries and fatalities.

Course Objectives and Outcomes

Master the Three Phases of DWI Detection

Learn to identify and articulate the three distinct phases of DWI detection: Vehicle in Motion, Personal Contact, and Pre-Arrest Screening.

Proficiently Administer and Interpret SFSTs

Receive comprehensive, hands-on training in the standardized administration, scoring, and interpretation of validated three-test SFST battery: Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN), Walk and Turn, and One Leg Stand. Training emphasizes standardized procedures and adherence to NHTSA/IACP guidelines.

Recognize and Interpret DWI Cues

Develop expertise in identifying typical vehicle maneuvers and human indicators symptomatic of DWI during initial observation, as well as reinforcing cues that emerge during the stopping sequence and sensory and behavioral clues observed during face-to-face contact and vehicle exit.

Understand the DWI Legal Environment

Gain a thorough understanding of Missouri DWI statutes, including DWI, Excessive BAC, and Implied Consent laws, alongside relevant case law impacting DWI enforcement.

Utilize Psychophysical and Preliminary Breath Tests (PBTs)

Discuss and understand the role and relevance of psychophysical (divided attention) tests and preliminary breath testing (PBT) in pre-arrest screening for DWI, including administrative procedures and factors affecting PBT accuracy.

Document and Articulate DWI Evidence

Learn to use appropriate descriptive terms to convey relevant observations of DWI evidence. Master the composition of clear, descriptive, and narrative DWI arrest reports using field note-taking techniques.

Understand DWI Prosecution Elements

Identify the key elements of DWI prosecution and their relevance to accurate and effective DWI arrest reporting, ensuring a strong foundation for successful prosecution.

Other Information

This course is approved by Missouri P.O.S.T. and provides the following Continuing Education Hours: 8 Technical hours, 3 Legal hours, and 13 Skill hours.

Tuition is waived for qualified Missouri Law Enforcement Officers through funding by MoDOT grants. Agencies are responsible for lodging and other expenses unless otherwise noted.