What Happens During a Field Sobriety Test?

Many times when a person is pulled over and the officer is trying to determine whether a motorist is under the influence of alcohol or drugs the officer will conduct field sobriety tests. Although there are three standardized field sobriety tests that are part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration manual (NHTSA Manual), there are others tests that are used.

Types of Field Sobriety Tests

From the moment a motorist is pulled over, an officer is trained to start conducting tests. These tests start as soon as the officer makes contact with the motorist.

Standardized NHTSA Field Sobriety Tests

There are three standardized field sobriety tests that are approved by NHSTA:

Each of these standardized field sobriety tests has exact guidelines that must be followed by the officer. Any variation can provide unreliable results.

Other Field Sobriety Tests

Even though they are not standardized, other field sobriety tests are often used by an officer. Other field sobriety tests may include:

How an Attorney Can Help

A seasoned Rhode Island DUI attorney can help after an arrest for a drunk driving or drugged driving. The Law Offices of Stefanie A. Murphy knows field sobriety guidelines and will fight to get these tests suppressed. Attorney Stefanie Murphy has handled hundreds of DUI cases and will fight to keep out evidence that hurts the case.