Police have multiple options when dealing with someone under the suspicion of driving while impaired. More commonly officers will use a breath test machine to evaluate someone’s blood alcohol level. Alternatively, officers may ask the suspect to perform a standardized field sobriety test (SFST).

What are SFSTs? Do you have to do an SFST? Are SFSTs accurate? Here’s what you should know:

Commonly used SFSTs

Standardized field sobriety tests are evaluation tools officers may use to gauge a suspect’s alcohol content. There are three commonly recognized SFSTs:

• Walk-and-turn test: the suspect will walk in a straight line, turn and return to where they started.
• Horizontal gaze test: the suspect will keep their eyes on a moving point without turning their head.
• One-legged stand test: the suspect will balance on one leg.

There are many more tests than just these three – any other form of these evaluations may be considered non-standardized field sobriety tests, like the finger-to-nose test, numbers backward test or ABCs test.

By participating in an SFST, an officer may determine if someone is drunk, however, these tests can be inaccurate. Police may misjudge someone who has a disability or medical problem as being inebriated. 

Knowing your right when it comes to an SFST

You aren’t legally bound to take a standardized field sobriety test. You may have problems completing the exercise because of something other than alcohol. You, however, can’t refuse a Breathalyzer test in New York without facing serious penalties.

If you believe you were wrongly charged with a DWI after taking a standardized field sobriety test, then you may need to know your options.