Participant Manual SFST - Session 4 – Overview of Detection, Note Taking and Testimony Session 4 - Overview of Detection, Note Taking, and Testimony DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing

Participant Manual SFST - Session 4 – Overview of Detection, Note Taking and

Testimony

Session 4 - Overview of Detection, Note Taking, and Testimony

DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing

Session 4

Overview of

Detection,

Note Taking,

and Testimony

50 Minutes

4-1

Session 4 - Overview of Detection, Note Taking, and Testimony

DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing

• Three phases of detection

• Tasks and key decision of each phase

• Uses of a standard note taking guide

• Guidelines for effective testimony

• Conduct a thorough pre-trial review of all

evidence and prepare for testimony

• Provide clear, accurate and descriptive

direct testimony concerning drug influence

evaluations

Learning Objectives

4-2

Upon successfully completing this session the participant will be able to:

• Describe the three phases of detection.

• Describe the tasks and key decision of each phase.

• Discuss the uses of a standard note taking guide.

• Discuss guidelines for effective testimony.

Detection is both the most important and difficult task in the DWI enforcement effort. If

officers fail to detect DWI offenders, the DWI countermeasures program will ultimately

fail. If officers do not detect and arrest DWI offenders, then prosecutors cannot

prosecute them, the courts and driver licensing officials cannot impose sanctions on

them, and treatment and rehabilitation programs will go unused.

CONTENT SEGMENTS LEARNING ACTIVITIES

A. Three Phases of Detection Instructor Led Presentation

B. DWI Investigation Field Notes Reading Assignments

C. Courtroom Testimony

Notes:_______________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

Notes:_______________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

HS 178 R5/13 2 of 21

Session 4 - Overview of Detection, Note Taking, and Testimony

DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing

The entire process of identifying and

gathering evidence to determine if a subject

should be arrested for a DWI violation.

DWI Detection

4-3 4-3

The term DWI detection has been used in many different ways. Consequently it does

not mean the same thing to all law enforcement officers. For the purposes of this

training, DWI detection is defined as: The entire process of identifying and gathering

evidence to determine if a subject should be arrested for a DWI violation.

Detection begins when the officer develops the first suspicion of a DWI violation.

Detection ends when the officer decides whether or not there is sufficient probable

cause to arrest the driver for DWI. Your attention may be called to a particular vehicle

or individual for a variety of reasons. The precipitating event may be a loud noise, an

obvious equipment or moving violation, behavior that is unusual, but not necessarily

illegal, or almost anything else. Initial detection may carry with it an immediate

suspicion that the driver is impaired; or a slight suspicion; or even no suspicion at all. In

any case, it sets in motion a process wherein you focus on a particular vehicle or

individual and have the opportunity to observe that vehicle or individual and to gather

additional evidence.

The detection process ends when you decide either to arrest or not to arrest the

individual for DWI. That decision is based on all of the evidence that has come to light

since your attention was first drawn to the vehicle or individual. Effective DWI enforcers

do not leap to the arrest/no arrest decision. Rather, they proceed carefully through a

series of intermediate steps, each of which helps to identify the collective evidence.

Notes:_______________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

HS 178 R5/13 3 of 21

Session 4 - Overview of Detection, Note Taking, and Testimony

DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing

• Phase One – Vehicle in Motion

• Phase Two – Personal Contact

• Phase Three – Pre-Arrest Screening

DWI Detection Phases

4-4

A. Three Phases of Detection

The typical DWI contact involves three separate and distinct phases:

• Phase One: Vehicle in motion

• Phase Two: Personal contact

• Phase Three: Pre-arrest screening

In Phase One, you usually observe the driver operating the vehicle.

In Phase Two, after you have stopped the vehicle, there usually is an opportunity to

observe and speak with the driver face to face.

In Phase Three, you usually have an opportunity to administer Standardized Field

Sobriety Tests to the driver to determine impairment.

In addition to SFSTs, some jurisdictions may allow you to administer other field sobriety

tests, and/or a preliminary breath test (PBT) to verify that alcohol is the cause of the

impairment. PBTs can be used to assist in making an arrest decision and should rarely

be the only factor in deciding to arrest. PBTs should be used after administering SFSTs.

Notes:_______________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

HS 178 R5/13 4 of 21Source: DWI Detection and

Standardized Field

Sobriety Testing