Drinking with your friends and mimicking the field sobriety tests you see on TV can be a fun way to get a laugh on a Friday night. You may even add ways to make it more challenging to make the game more interesting.
When you are facing an officer, however, a field sobriety test is a lot different. Instead of laughing when you mess up, the officer is making their final decision on whether to make an arrest.
Here’s what you should know about trying to practice a field sobriety test.
Not all tests can be practiced
Often people assume that their field sobriety test will be standing on one leg or the walk and turn test. While these are both standard field sobriety tests, they are not the officer’s only options.
There are three standard tests, and the third test is the “horizontal gaze nystagmus.” During the horizontal gaze nystagmus test, the officer will have you follow a moving object like a pen from side to side with your eyes. The officer is looking for an involuntary jerking of the eyes that tends to be present when you have had too much to drink.
While you could practice your balance and coordination skills for the first two tests, you cannot practice your way to a passing result on the horizontal gaze nystagmus test.
The officer has already decided
In most cases, by the time the officer asks you to step out of the car, they often have most of the information they need to make an arrest. Typically, the officer has already noticed several factors that make them suspicious of your blood-alcohol level.
Drunk driving charges can have a serious impact on your job and your life. When facing a drunk driving charge, it is essential to have an experienced professional who can advocate for you.