Standardized Field Sobriety Tests are tests designed to determine whether someone has a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of over .08%. In order to be reliable, Standardized Field Sobriety Tests must be administered in the manner they were validated. The problem is that these tests were validated in an office setting where those administering the tests had all of the instructions, demonstrations, and scoring information right in front of them.
In reality, these tests are not administered (generally) in an office setting.
- They are often administered in the field where there are all sorts of interfering factors like wind, ice, snow, uneven pavement, loose gravel, flashing lights, and passing vehicles.
- They are administered by officers who may have been trained on how to administer these tests many years ago, who may have inadvertently made mistakes in their administration by leaving out important instructions, demonstrations, and scoring details.
- They fail to take into consideration age, weight, and the disabilities of those being tested.
I’ve seen many cases where:
- Environmental factors not intoxication caused the subject to fail
- Officers failed to remember the standardized instructions
- Officers failed to demonstrate things correctly
- Officers scored the tests incorrectly
It’s critical that your DWI Attorney is experienced, knowledgeable, and has studied DWI laws and studied police procedures. DWI Attorney Tom Anelli is a certified instructor of Field Sobriety Testing and can work on your behalf to minimize penalties. Call DWI Tom at 800-DWI-1100.
This is not legal advice and is for general informational purposes only. Please consult a lawyer if you are charged with a DWI. Please remember, you can call Tom Anelli 24/7 at 1-800-DWI-1100 or www.dwitom.com
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