In 2015 the Nevada Department of Public Safety-Office of Traffic Safety received funding to increase police training in the detection of impaired drivers that are impaired by a substance other than alcohol.
The goal was to facilitate Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) training for approximately 90 officers throughout the State of Nevada. The ARIDE training is designed to bridge the gap between Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST) and Drug Recognition Expert (DRE). The training includes SFST refresher and signs and symptoms of persons under the influence of impairing substances.
For Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2016 there have been approximately 120 officers trained as well as a handful of prosecuting attorneys. Training classes have taken place in Douglas County, Carson City, Reno, Elko, West Wendover, Las Vegas, and Pahrump. With future classes scheduled in Winnemucca, Fallon, and Las Vegas it is anticipated that over 150 officers will receive ARIDE training in FFY 2016.
The Office of Traffic Safety has received outstanding feedback from officers that attended the training. Multiple officers have indicated they have made arrests for DUI Drugs based on information received during the training and without the training they would have released the offender.
The Nevada Department of Public Safety-Office of Traffic Safety hopes to continue this training during FFY 2017.
A special thanks to Sergeant Mike Edgell (NHP), Sergeant William Murwin (NHP), and Trooper Deborah Huff (NHP) for taking the initiative and instructing the ARIDE classes.
