Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST) Course

The Northeast Alabama Law Enforcement Academy is presenting a Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST) Course. The course will begin at 8:00 a.m. at the Academy. Tuition for the course includes all notebooks, handouts, and materials.

This course will satisfy the requirements of the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences for approved sobriety testing screening. Upon successful completion of the course the student will be certified by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences to administer standardized field sobriety tests.

This course was developed by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) and includes training in administering the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus test, the Walk-and-Turn test, and the One-Leg-Stand test. A U.S. District Court for Alabama has said that "Without such tests (field sobriety tests), the court simply found that a reasonable officer would not have sufficient information to believe that the defendant had committed the crime of driving under the influence of alcohol." Hurst v. Finely, 857 F. Supp. 1517 (U.S.D. Ala. June 1994) This course will teach and certify officers in the proper administration of these approved tests. Any Alabama certified officer who attended a minimum standards academy prior to September 1993 needs this course of instruction to comply with D.U.I. arrest laws, rules, and court decisions.

Subject areas that will be presented in this course include:

Detection and General Deterrance
The Legal Environment
Vehicle in Motion
Personal Contact
Pre-Arrest Screening
Concepts and Principles of the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests

This course will include practice sessions administering the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests to both sober and intoxicated subjects. To successfully complete the course the student must score a minimum of 80% on a written exam and successfully complete a practical exam. The course will include evening classes until 10:00pm.

Seating is limited in this course and the course is expected to fill quickly, so don't hesitate in returning your registration form.

This cost of this course is $50.00.

We must have your registration form to guarantee your seat in the course. Registration deadline is 1 week prior to course date. If for some reason you are unable to attend the course and we are not informed of your cancellation by fax, e-mail, or letter, you will still be invoiced the full tuition fee. There will be no refunds for cancellations after the registration deadline.

For more information e-mail us or call (256) 782-5318.