What is the accuracy rate of Field Sobriety Tests?
Accuracy is questionable. Even when these tests are conducted under ideal circumstances by qualified law enforcement personnel, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has determined the following percentage of reliability for the three standardized field sobriety tests: Pen Test (Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus): 77% likelihood that the BAC is › .10 Walk and Turn: 68% likelihood that the BAC is › .10 One Leg Stand: 65% likelihood that the BAC is › .10 As indicated by these results, the standardized field sobriety tests are not a highly reliable indicator of intoxication. Likewise, their results can often be successfully contested in court by a skilled attorney.
