Forensic Tests for Alcohol to oversee training for sobriety testing across N.C.

The Director of the Governor's Highway Safety Program (GHSP) has designated the Forensic Tests for Alcohol (FTA) Branch of the Division of Public Health as the state agency to provide the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST) to law enforcement officers statewide.

While you may not remember hearing about the FTA Branch, you have probably seen their BAT-Mobile at fairs or at sobriety/DWI checkpoints—the Mobile Breath Alcohol Testing unit. Responsible for education and public awareness about drinking and driving, FTA also participates in the state’s “Booze It and Lose It” campaign against drunk driving. They are also responsible for ensuring the reliability of Breathalyzer testing.

FTA will work with the existing training system to ensure that all sobriety training is uniform and up-to-date across the state. Under FTA’s leadership, current SFST instructors will get refresher and update courses, along with the latest version of the training manual, before they can train law enforcement officers on doing sobriety testing. FTA will also start a tracking system of SFST instructors and officers statewide. Agencies such as community and technical colleges and police academies that provide SFST training to law enforcement officers will have to show that their instructors are current with NHTSA / FTA SFST refresher courses.

“This new system should ensure the most current SFST courses are being taught with SFST instructors and that current SFST manuals are uniformly used across the state,” said Al Eisele, head of the Forensic Tests for Alcohol Branch. “It is a very positive step.”

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Last Modified: July 12, 2006