Roadside tests
Failed a field sobriety test? It can still be wrong.
You took the roadside tests or refused them, and now your license and your record are at risk. Your license hearing request has a deadline counted in days, and it comes before your court date.
Someone answers 24/7, reviews your roadside tests free, and connects you with a DUI lawyer for your state.
The three tests
- Horizontal gaze nystagmus (HGN): the officer watches your eyes follow an object side to side.
- Walk-and-turn: nine heel-to-toe steps, a turn, nine steps back.
- One-leg stand: one foot raised while you count out loud.
NHTSA calls these three the standardized field sobriety test battery (NHTSA).
How accurate they are
In early research cited by NHTSA, the three tests together sorted drivers above or below .10 about 83 percent of the time. The later field study put correct arrest decisions at 93 percent and correct arrest-or-release decisions at 86 percent. That still leaves room for error in your case.
How they differ from the breath test
The breath test at the station is a chemical test, and implied consent laws attach penalties to refusing it (NHTSA). Roadside tasks are different. Illinois, for example, sets a six-month suspension when field tests show impairment in a cannabis case (Illinois Secretary of State). Rules differ by state.
How they are used in court
The officer's report and any body camera video show how the tests were given. A lawyer compares that with the standard steps. Tests given on a slope, in the rain, or to someone with an injury carry less weight.
Questions people ask
What are the three field sobriety tests?
The horizontal gaze nystagmus eye test, the walk-and-turn, and the one-leg stand. Together NHTSA calls them the standardized field sobriety test battery.
How accurate are field sobriety tests?
In one NHTSA-cited study, the three tests together correctly sorted drivers above or below .10 about 83 percent of the time. A later field study found 93 percent of arrest decisions were correct.
Is a field sobriety test the same as a breathalyzer?
No. The roadside tests are physical tasks. The breath test is a chemical test covered by implied consent laws.
Can field sobriety tests be wrong?
Yes. Injuries, age, weight, shoes, a slope or bad lighting can all affect the result. A lawyer can check whether the officer gave the tests the standard way.
Read next: Refusing the breath test · DUI checkpoints · After the arrest
What to do now
Your field sobriety test results are now part of a DUI case against you. The license case moves first, and a missed hearing deadline can cost you your license before court. Call now so a lawyer can file your license hearing request in time and ask for the police records and video.
Call about my tests (877) 317-9931
Someone answers 24/7, reviews your roadside tests free, and connects you with a DUI lawyer for your state.
Send your case details
Send what the officer had you do, the ground and weather, any injury, and the dates on your notice. With those details in hand, the call starts with your case instead of basic questions.