Rhode Island residents like you may know what field sobriety tests are. Law enforcement uses them when trying to decide if someone is guilty of a DUI crime. It is often the first step of many in determining someone’s blood alcohol content (BAC) level.
There are two types of field sobriety tests. Standardized field sobriety tests are what you are most likely to come across.
Why standardized sobriety tests are used more often
FieldSobrietyTests.org acts as a resource on everything related to field sobriety testing. This includes information on standardized field sobriety tests. Law enforcement officers rely on standardized field sobriety tests more. Why? Because they have a uniform rubric by which all test results get measured. Non-standardized tests lack this. The judgment is up to the police officer who gave the test. Therefore, it may contain bias. Standardized tests help avoid that.
There are only three types of standardized field sobriety tests. They are:
- The one-legged stand
- The horizontal gaze nystagmus
- The walk-and-turn
What field sobriety tests check
Each test checks your sense of balance and your ability to follow instructions. Officers also keep an eye out for other telltale signs of a high BAC level when running the tests. This may include slurred speech or red eyes.
Since field sobriety testing is not infallible, it is often considered a first step. If the results seem suspicious, an officer may ask for more testing. This can include breath or blood analysis tests. These tests have scientific backing and are thus more reliable. But regardless of what the test results say, there is still a fighting chance.
