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.
Standardized Field Sobriety Tests
The National Highway Safety and Traffic Administration (NHSTA) has closely regulated field sobriety tests throughout the years. Currently, only three field sobriety tests are considered standardized by the NHSTA. The three standardized field sobriety tests are: the horizontal gaze nystagmus, the walk and turn, and the one leg stand.
Field Sobriety Tests and Inaccuracy
Most people are under the impression that field sobriety tests can determine if a person is impaired by drugs and/or alcohol, but this is not true. In many cases, it has been discovered that people have performed poorly during field sobriety tests for reasons other than intoxication. A person can perform poorly during the field sobriety tests for many reasons, including: slippery road conditions, poor lighting, poor instructions, and medical conditions that impair the person’s coordination.
