Deputy Colin Cunningham of the Newton County Sheriff’s Office recently completed a DUI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing course taught by the Georgia Police Academy Division of the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth.

This training program includes the observation techniques involved in recognizing when a driver may be operating a vehicle under the influence of intoxicants. Patterns of driver behavior and the more common driving errors committed by drivers under the influence of intoxicants are identified also.

Students are taught the safe methods of stopping and approaching a suspect driver and the observations to make in order to determine if a driver is under the influence. Emphasis is placed on the proper manner in which to administer field sobriety tests.

Practical exercises are conducted during the day and night and are used to emphasize the importance of a proper response to this problem. The field sobriety tests taught meet the standards of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

Funding for this program has been provided by the State of Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety.