October 27, 2015

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
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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.
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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.
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HS 178 R5/13 4 of 21Source: DWI Detection and
Standardized Field
Sobriety Testing

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