Field sobriety tests
| Author | Don Bartell/Mary Catherine McMurray/Anne ImObersteg |
| Pages | 199-230 |
7-1
CHAPTER 7
FIELD SOBRIETY TESTS
I. GENERAL POINTS
§7:01 Field Tests Are Less Reliable Than Chemical Tests
§7:02 Value of Field Tests
§7:03 Test Settings and Studies
§7:04 Types of Tests
§7:05 Standardized and Non-Standardized Tests
§7:06 Not All Tests Have Been Studied
II. STUDIES OF ALCOHOL USE AND TESTS
A. Studies in Research Settings
§7:10 Environmental and Situational Factors are Controlled
§7:11 Determination of a Baseline
§7:12 Increased Understanding of the Effects of Alcohol
§7:13 Correlation Studies and the Correlation Coefficient
B. Field Studies
1. Driving Behavior
§7:20 Epidemiological Studies
§7:21 Correlation of Driving Behaviors with Alcohol Level
2. Self or Third Party Assessment
§7:30 Self Assessment
§7:31 Clinical Assessment
§7:32 Layman Assessment
3. “Objective” Signs of Intoxication
§7:40 Odor of Alcohol
§7:41 Slurred Speech
§7:42 Red/Watery Eyes
III. PRE-FIELD SOBRIETY TEST QUESTIONING
§7:50 Tests Are Preceded by Interrogation
§7:51 Check for Impediments
§7:51.1 Medical Conditions Affecting Field Sobriety Tests
§7:52 Assess Divided Attention Ability
FIELD SOBRIETY TESTS
Attacking and Defending Drunk Driving Tests 7-2
FIELD SOBRIETY TESTS
IV. NON-STANDARD FIELD SOBRIETY TESTS (EXERCISES)
A. Romberg Test
§7:60 History and Use
§7:61 Mechanics of the Test
§7:62 Baseline Is Critical
§7:63 Varying Results Show Test Is Unreliable
B. Other Tests
§7:70 Finger to Nose
§7:71 Alphabet, Count Down, and Finger Count Tests
§7:72 Handwriting and Tracing
§7:73 Hand-Pat and Picking up Coins
V. THE STANDARDIZED FIELD SOBRIETY TEST METHOD (SFST)
A. History and Studies
1. Development of Standard Tests
§7:80 NHTSA Commission SCRI Research
§7:81 The 1977 Report
§7:82 The 1981 Report
2. Large-Scale Field Validations
§7:90 The 1983 Study
§7:91 Colorado, Florida, and California Studies
3. Correlation Studies
§7:100 The 1998 Validation Study
§7:101 The 1997 Validation Study
4. Critiques of the Validation Studies
§7:110 Studies Not Peer-Reviewed
§7:111 Officers Do Not Comply With SFST Procedure
§7:112 Nystagmus Measurement Inexact
§7:113 Use of Correlation Coefficients is Misleading
§7:114 California Study Conclusion Is Flawed
§7:115 Officers in Studies More Experienced Than Normal
§7:116 Reliability Claims Are Misleading
§7:117 Age and Weight Not Taken Into Account
§7:118 Clues Were Not Independently Evaluated
§7:119 Comparison to Estimated BAC Is Invalid
B. Administering and Scoring the Tests
1. General Points
§7:130 Three Pre-Arrest Tests
§7:131 Standardization Is Critical
2. Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus
a. Definition and Types of Nystagmus
§7:140 Definition and General Points
§7:141 Types of Nystagmus
b. Causes of Nystagmus
§7:150 Alcohol Metabolites
§7:151 Pathological Disorders and Diseases
§7:152 Medications
§7:153 Circadian Rhythms/Biorhythms
§7:154 Natural End-Point Nystagmus
§7:155 Congenital Nystagmus
§7:156 Fatigue
§7:157 Alcohol
§7:158 Rising or Falling Alcohol Level
7-3 Field Sobriety Tests
FIELD SOBRIETY TESTS
c. Measuring Nystagmus
§7:160 Angle of Onset Not a Reliable Indicator
§7:161 Nystagmus at Low Levels
§7:162 Administration of the Test
§7:163 Scoring the Test
3. Walk and Turn
§7:170 Administration of the Test
§7:171 Scoring the Test
4. One Leg Stand
§7:180 Administration of the Test
§7:181 Scoring the Test
C. Evaluating the SFST
§7:190 Lack of Establishment of Normal Performance
§7:191 Using Clues to Indicate a “Failure”
§7:192 SFSTs Do Not Determine Driving Impairment
§7:193 Non-Chemical Tests Have Unreliable Aspects
D. Key Insights From the NHTSA Field Sobriety Test Manual
§7:200 Field Sobriety Tests Validation in General
§7:201 The Initial Contact
§7:202 Observations of the Eyes
§7:203 Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus
§7:204 Walk and Turn
§7:205 One Leg Stand
§7:206 Trial Tips For Arresting Officers
§7:207 Miscellaneous Observations
• See Digital Access for the NHTSA DWI Detection & Standardized Field Sobriety Testing Student
Manual (2006).
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