Law enforcement officers may initiate a traffic stop if they see signs that a driver is impaired. Once they do that, they will try to find out what’s going on with the driver. This can include several things, such as observing the scene and talking to the driver. In some cases, the officer may ask the driver to take a field sobriety test.
There are many different field sobriety tests that officers may use; however, there are only three that are considered reliable enough to be admissible in court. Those three are only considered accurate when they’re considered as a single battery of tests, and they’re the only set of tests endorsed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
What tests are part of this battery of tests?
The horizontal gaze nystagmus, one-leg stand, and walk and turn are known as the standardized field sobriety test. Each of these puts the driver’s abilities to the test in a way that can alert the officer if there are signs of impairment:
- The horizontal gaze nystagmus test allows the officer to check for certain involuntary eye movements as the driver follows an object using only their eyes. If there is a specific jerking in the eyes, the officer may determine the driver is impaired, but this can also happen with certain medical conditions or fatigue.
- The one-leg stand requires the driver to stand on one leg without hopping or swaying. If the person puts their foot down or is unable to stand still on one leg, it may be interpreted as impairment.
- The walk and turn involves walking heel-to-toe in a straight line, turning and returning to the starting point in the same manner. Failing to walk in a straight line or swaying may be signs of impairment.
Anyone facing drunk driving charges should learn about their defense strategy options as quickly as possible after their arrest. Working with someone familiar with these matters may be beneficial while going over those options.