The standardized field sobriety test is a series of physical exercises an officer will ask you to perform when you’ve been stopped on suspicion of drunk or impaired driving. These tests are designed to determine a person’s “balance, coordination, and the ability of the driver to divide his or her attention among several tasks at once.” (More information can be found at the NHTSA website). The exercises can include:
This test isn’t like those given in school. You aren’t told ahead of time what the testing criteria will be, you aren’t allowed to study or practice, you may not even be aware that the test has already begun or ended, and you’re not told what a “passing” grade is—or even if you have passed or failed once the test has ended. In addition to the tests’ specific indicators, the officer will be looking for other signs of impairment due to drugs or alcohol, such as:
The field sobriety tests are voluntary, although this is not often made clear during the stop. There is no legal consequence for refusing to take a field sobriety test.
It is important to note that an experienced and qualified attorney will know how to defend your case whether you passed or failed the tests or refused to take them altogether. Our attorneys have all successfully completed the same National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s IACP training to conduct Standardized Field Sobriety Tests taught to all Utah police officers at Utah’s POST Academy—and they are all qualified INSTRUCTORS to teach administering this test to others!
We have a fully staffed knowledgeable, experienced legal team ready to help you. Schedule your consultation today!