What are Field Sobriety Tests?
If you are stopped for suspected drunk driving, the officer will most likely ask you to perform several field sobriety tests. Some common field sobriety tests are: • Alcohol / Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus The officer holds a pen 12 inches from the drivers face and asks the driver to watch the pen as he moves it from side to side at a 45 degree angle. The officer is looking for an involuntary jerking of the eyeball when the pen is as far to the side as possible; the higher the drivers blood alcohol content, the more the eyeball is supposed to jerk. • Standing on One Foot (While Counting) Driver stands on one foot, hands at his side, with the other foot extended. The officer may ask the driver to count at the same time. • Walking Imaginary Line (Heel to Toe) Driver must walk a straight line, touching the heel of one foot to the toe of the other.
Field sobriety tests (FST) are agility tests that are used by law enforcement to determine if a person is impaired by drugs and/or alcohol. If a person is believed to have been driving while under the influence, law enforcement may request that the person perform a series of field sobriety tests before deciding to make a DUI arrest. Field Sobriety Tests and DUI Arrest When a person is stopped for driving under the influence, he/she may be asked by the police officer to perform a series of field sobriety tests. It is up to the police officer to determine if the person has passed or failed his/her field sobriety tests. The police officer must closely monitor the person’s balance, coordination, and motor skills while the person performs the test. The officer will decide if the person has correctly followed given instructions. It is believed that if a person is under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, he/she will have poor coordination, and fail the field sobriety tests.
• Field sobriety tests are what is referred to as divided attention tests that is, they are tests which requires the subject to concentrate on both mental and physical tasks at the same time. • Officers are trained to compare the actual results of the test to expected results and make a determination of impairment • There are only three tests that are scientifically reliable (and their reliability is questionable): • One other field sobriety test is the portable breath test device that is used to test your breath on the scene this test result is not admissible in court due to the fact that it is not deemed to be scientifically reliable.
