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| Common Field Sobriety Tests |
If a police officer stops you and believes that
you are driving under the influence (ARS 28-1381), they may ask you to complete field sobriety tests.
There are five different tests that are commonly given to people in Arizona,
only three of which are standardized. When a DUI lawyer works with a client who
is charged with a drunk driving offense, one of the things they will do is review
any field sobriety tests to which their client submitted. Here are some common
questions and answers about field sobriety tests often asked of a Phoenix DUI lawyer.
1. What are field sobriety tests?
Field sobriety tests are a battery of assessments derived from those developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA. Of the tests that are commonly given in Arizona, only three are standardized. Standardized field sobriety tests, or SFSTs, are those that are considered to be reliable according to the NHTSA. The SFSTs include the following:
- Horizontal gaze nystagmus, or HGN
- The walk-and-turn
- One-leg stand
