If you are facing charges for driving under the influence (DUI), you may be wondering what happens during a traffic stop. One of the key components of a DUI stop is the field sobriety test. In this blog post, we will define field sobriety tests and explain how they are used in Kentucky DUI cases.
What Are Field Sobriety Tests?
Field sobriety tests (FSTs) are divided attention tests that are used by law enforcement officers to determine if a driver is impaired. The three standardized FSTs that are most commonly used are the horizontal gaze nystagmus (HGN) test, the walk-and-turn test, and the one-leg stand test.
Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus Test
During the HGN test, an officer will ask the driver to follow an object with his or her eyes. The officer is looking for three clues that may indicate intoxication: lack of smooth pursuit, distinct nystagmus at maximum deviation, and onset of nystagmus prior to 45 degrees.
Walk-and-Turn Test
For the walk-and-turn test, the officer will ask the driver to take nine steps heel-to-toe along a straight line, turn around, and then take nine more steps back. The officer will be looking for eight clues of intoxication, including whether the driver lost his or her balance while listening to the instructions, began before being told to start, stopped while walking to regain balance, did not touch heel-to-toe, stepped off of the line, used arms for balance, missed heel-to-toe on turns or steps, or failed to return on the line after completing the turn.
One-Leg Stand Test
The one-leg stand test is exactly what it sounds like—the officer will ask the driver to stand on one leg with the other leg six inches off of the ground and count out loud until told to stop. The officer will be looking for four clues of intoxication: swaying while balancing, using arms for balance, hopping to maintain balance, and putting foot down before being told to stop.
Result of Field Sobriety Tests in Kentucky DUI Cases
While FSTs can be helpful in determining if a driver is impaired, they are not foolproof. Many factors can affect a person’s performance on these tests—including fatigue, weather conditions, age, weight, and nerves—that have nothing to do with alcohol or drug use. For this reason, FSTs should not be used as conclusive evidence of impairment in a DUI case. However, they can be used as circumstantial evidence to support other forms of evidence that indicate intoxication. If you have failed a field sobriety test and are facing DUI charges in Kentucky, you should contact an experienced DUI attorney as soon as possible to discuss your legal options.
In summary, field sobriety tests are divided attention tests that are often used by law enforcement during traffic stops to determine if a driver is impaired. There are three standardized field sobriety tests that are most commonly used: the horizontal gaze nystagmus test; the walk-and-turn test; and the one-leg stand test. Although field sobriety tests can be helpful in indicating impairment, they are not foolproof and should not be used as conclusive evidence in a DUI case. If you have failed a field sobriety test and are facing charges in Kentucky, you should contact Mashni Law, an experienced DUI attorney right away.