Sobriety Tests Revealed

By Author: Peter Wendt
Total Articles: 34
Comment this article

There are two types of sobriety tests that law enforcement officers use to determine sobriety. The first is a field sobriety test. The second is a chemical test that measures the amount of alcohol in the blood. Typically, to measure a person’s blood alcohol concentration, or BAC, police officers will have suspects submit to a breathalyzer test. A blood test is also often conducted to determine whether a suspect has consumed alcohol.

What Happens During a Field Sobriety Test

Police officers begin evaluating sobriety based on the scent of the suspect’s breath, the color of his or her eyes and the individual’s overall demeanor. If there is reason to believe the driver is under the influence of alcohol, the police officer will administer a field sobriety test.

The Standardized Field Sobriety Test, or SFST, is a series of three short tests. The first test is the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus, or HGN. During this test, a driver will be asked to follow a police officer’s finger, pen or other small object with his or her eyes. The next test is the Walk-and-Turn, or WAT, during which drivers are asked ...
... to take nine steps in a straight line, keeping their feet heel-to-toe. After completing nine steps, the driver will pivot and walk nine steps back.

The final test is called the One-Leg Stand, or OLS. During this test, the driver will be asked to hold one foot off the ground and count until he or she is told to stop. Drivers will be asked to count and are timed for 30 seconds or until they are unable to continue.

What Police Are Looking for During Sobriety Tests

While performing a field sobriety test, police officers are looking for specific clues that indicate intoxication. During the SFST, for example, the officer will be watching the driver’s eyes to see whether they jerk involuntarily while following the required object. With the WAT, officers are looking for eight different indicators of intoxication. Some of these indicators include walking before the police officer has finished giving the instructions, stopping to regain balance, using one’s arms for balance and stepping from the line.

During BAC testing, police officers are focused on determining whether an individual has consumed alcohol and whether the driver’s BAC is over the legal limit of .08%. If the individual is under 21 years of age, any detectable BAC would be considered driving while intoxicated.

Austin, Texas has been Peter Wendt’s writing headquarters for a number of years now. For readers who wish to learn more about this subject, he recommends they check out best Houston federal criminal lawyer .