The 2026 North Dakota Impaired Driving Conference will take place June 9–11 at the Radisson Inn in Bismarck. This year’s event brings together officers, subject‑matter experts, and partner agencies for three days of hands‑on training, case discussions, and engaging conversations about the evolving landscape of impaired driving enforcement.
Participants will dive into topics ranging from the science behind SFST to current toxicology practices, emerging impairment trends, and recent court decisions that influence both roadside procedures and courtroom outcomes. The conference is designed to be practical, interactive, and closely aligned with the challenges law enforcement is seeing in the field today.
Attendees must register to participate. There is no registration fee, and approved travel expenses for law enforcement attendees will be reimbursed by NDDOT. POST credits will be available.
This year’s guest speakers include:
- Amy Miles – NHTSA Regional Toxicology Liaison
- Jonathan Huber – Seattle Police Department
- Robert Hayes – International Association of Chiefs of Police
Attendees are responsible for their own hotel reservations. A block of rooms is available at the Bismarck Radisson under “Impaired Driving Conference,” with lodging costs eligible for reimbursement for law enforcement. Reservations must be made by May 17, 2026, by calling 701‑255‑6000 (option 2) or by using the Online Booking Link.
Tuesday, June 9 – THE IMPAIRMENT PUZZLE: Law, Evidence & Human Decision-Making
- 12:30 – 1:00 PM Registration
- 1:00 – 1:15 PM National Anthem and Pledge of Allegiance
- 1:15 – 1:30 PM Welcome and Opening Remarks
Trooper Tarek Chase, Drug Recognition Expert (DRE)/Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST) State Coordinator, NDHP
Judge John Grinsteiner (retired), ND State Judicial Outreach Liaison (SJOL) - 1:30 – 3:15 PM Impaired Driving Panel: A Case Study from Both Sides
Dennis Ingold, Assistant Burleigh County States Attorney
Justin Vinje, Vinje Law Firm, Defense Attorney
Grant Walker, Walker Law Firm, Prosecutor and Defense Attorney
Judge Jason Hammes, South Central Judicial District
Judge Kristi Pettit Venhuizen, Northeast Central Judicial District - 3:15 – 3:30 PM Break
- 3:30 – 5:00 PM Beyond the Manuals: The HGN – The Science Behind the Signs
Jonathan Huber, Seattle Police Dept., Seattle, Washington
Andrew Farley, King County Sheriff’s Office, Washington State - 5:00 PM Adjourn
- 5:30 – 9:30 PM Networking Event
Craftcade, 405 N 4th Street, Bismarck
Wednesday, June 10 – INSIDE THE IMPAIRED MIND: Science, Toxicology & Detection Skills
- 7:30 – 8:30 AM Breakfast on Your Own
- 8:30 – 10:00 AM Beyond the Manuals: The SFSTs – The Science Behind the Steps
Jonathan Huber, Seattle PD
Andrew Farley, King County Sheriff’s Office, Washington State - 10:00 – 10:15 AM Break
- 10:15 – 12:00 PM Toxicology Done Right: Best Practices for Sample Collection
Amy Miles, NHTSA R8 Toxicology Liaison
Janelle Portscheller, State Toxicologist, ND Attorney General Crime Lab - 12:00 – 1:00 PM Lunch Sponsored by (AAA)
- 1:00 – 2:00 PM Clearly and Convincingly: Connecting Indicators and Impairment
- 2:00 – 3:15 PM Marijuana 2.0: Effects, Products, and Impairment
Robert Hayes, IACP Regional Coordinator, Western Region - 3:15 – 3:30 PM Break
- 3:30 - 5:00 PM State v. Bell: Lessons Learned – Investigation and Prosecution
Rachel Egstad, Grand Forks County States Attorney
Trp. Austin Erickson, North Dakota Highway Patrol
Cpl. Adam Cole, Grand Forks Police Dept. - 5:00 PM Adjourn
Thursday, June 11 – BEYOND THE BASICS: Confronting New Drug Challenges Head-on
- 7:30 – 8:30 AM Breakfast on your own
- 8:30 – 9:30 AM Synthetic Cannabinoids: Rising Trends and Officer Safety
Jerry Stein, Bismarck Police Department - 9:30 – 10:15 AM Break
- 10:15 – 11:30 AM Unlocking Minds: The New Era of Psilocybin Legalization
Robert Hayes, IACP Regional Coordinator, Western Region - 11:30 – 12:00 PM Toxicology Q&A: Ask the Experts
Amy Miles, NHTSA R8 Toxicology Liaison
Janelle Portscheller, State Toxicologist, ND Attorney General Crime Lab - 12:00 PM Adjourn
- 12:30 PM DRE Advisory Board Meeting
Use the form below to register for the Impaired Driving Conference.
Questions?
Contact our Program Manager Kelly Aberle at kaberle@nd.gov