RIPCA and Rhode Island Public Safety Leaders Team Up to Improve Impaired Driving Detection
Today, the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association, in partnership with the Rhode Island Department of Public Safety, hosted its second Cannabis Impairment Detection Workshop, commonly known as a “Green Lab.” The workshop provides law enforcement officers with hands-on training to better understand the effects of cannabis and recognize signs of cannabis impairment in drivers. Rhode Island’s Green Lab is one of only a small number of programs nationwide that provide officers with the opportunity to observe the effects of cannabis consumption in a controlled setting.
“As recreational cannabis use becomes more common in Rhode Island, law enforcement is expanding its training and efforts to address cannabis-impaired driving,” said Bradford Connor, retired Chief of the Warwick Police Department and Law Enforcement Coordinator for the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association. “Whether caused by cannabis, alcohol, or a combination of the two, impaired driving can have serious and life-altering consequences. This training gives officers valuable experience identifying impairment so they can help keep Rhode Island’s roadways safe.”
During the Green Lab, 10 volunteers consumed cannabis in a controlled and monitored environment. Officers administered standardized field sobriety tests before and after consumption to observe changes in performance and indicators of impairment. Two volunteers also consumed alcohol in combination with cannabis, allowing officers to observe the potential effects of combined use.
Volunteers also used a driving simulator provided by the Rhode Island Interlocal Trust before and after consuming cannabis, providing another opportunity to observe how cannabis impairment can affect the skills needed to operate a vehicle safely.
The Green Lab followed an Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) course completed this week by 23 Rhode Island police officers. The two-day course builds upon officers’ existing training in standardized field sobriety testing and provides additional instruction in recognizing signs of impairment caused by drugs, alcohol, or a combination of substances. Following the ARIDE course, the officers participated in the Green Lab.
ARIDE training is often a step toward becoming a certified Drug Recognition Expert (DRE). DREs receive specialized training to identify drivers who may be impaired by drugs, either alone or in combination with alcohol. By working directly with cannabis-impaired volunteers during the Green Lab, participating officers were able to apply their training and gain firsthand experience recognizing observable signs of impairment.
“Rhode Island law enforcement remains committed to giving officers the training and tools they need to recognize impaired driving,” added Connor. “The more effectively officers can identify impairment on the roadside, the better equipped we are to prevent crashes, save lives, and make Rhode Island’s roads safer for everyone.”
Grant funding for this project was provided by the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility (Responsibility.org) and the National Alliance to Stop Impaired Driving (NASID).
