What is a standardized field sobriety test ?
A Standardized Field Sobriety Test (SFST) is a tool used by a police officer to identify an intoxicated driver. There are three SFSTs: 1) The Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test; 2) The one-leg stand test; and, 3) The walk and turn test. Researchers funded by the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) developed these three tests. A failure of any of the tests, according to the researchers, means the person has an alcohol concentration of greater than .08. Of importance is the fact that there is a great ongoing debate about the validity, accuracy, and reliability of both the researchers’ conclusions and their tests. There is no implied consent requirement that a person submit to a law enforcement officer’s request to take either these SFSTs or any other police motor skill coordination exercise. Attorney note: As you might imagine, if you’ve never performed these tests before, under stressful conditions it is very easy to make a mistake. Each mistake is considered a
