The standardized field sobriety testing sfst training curriculum collectively, prepares police officers and other qualified persons to conduct the sfsts for use in dwi investigations. Standardized field sobriety testing sfst training approved the core course is 24 hours two approved alcohol workshops andor two approved dry alcohol workshops sufficient time should be allowed to develop and demonstrate proficiency in the sfsts prior to commencing dre training. The results of this study provide clear evidence of the validity of the standardized field sobriety test battery to discriminate at 0. Ultimate goal to increase deterrence of dwi violations, and thereby reduce the number of crashes, deaths and injuries caused by impaired drivers. Standards for the standardized field sobriety testing program. Preliminary conclusion is reached concerning the cause of impairment i. A police officer typically performs a threepart field sobriety test after a traffic stop where there is suspicion that the motorist may be drunk or otherwise impaired.
Other field sobriety tests that an officer may administer outside of the three standardized tests discussed above and the portable breath test include. Traffic officers in all 50 states now have been trained to administer the standardized field sobriety tests sfsts to individuals suspected of impaired driving and to score their performance of the tests. Keep your head still and follow the stimulus with your eyes only. Field sobriety test performance report subject name start time. Standard field sobriety test instructors county department officer clay clay co sd krause, josh clay clay co sd switzer, james clinton frankfort pd downey, jeff clinton frankfort pd schilling, mark dearborn dearborn co bridges, garland dearborn greendale pd lane, jeffrey dearborn lawrenceburg pd losekamp, kenny dearborn lawrenceburg pd miller. Standardized field sobriety test sfst resources nhtsa. Original research by southern california research institute scri showed the test was 77% accurate at detecting a bac of 0. Sfsts found the test battery to be acceptable for field use to establish probable cause for dwi arrest. Field sobriety tests 101 mine if these individuals were impaired too drunk to drive. A florida validation study of the standardized field. Preliminary breath test test administered during investigation of a possible dwi violator to obtain an indication of the persons blood alcohol. The standardized field sobriety test sfst is a battery of 3 tests performed by a police officer during a traffic stop in order to determine if a person suspected of impaired driving is intoxicated with alcohol or drugs. A guide to field sobriety tests in las vegas, nv dui cases.
Unlike the chemical tests, refusing to take a fst should not have any legal. The nhtsa has standardized these tests because they have objective scoring systems. Standardized field sobriety test aaa dui justice link. There are three field sobriety tests standardized by the national highway traffic safety administration nhtsa. The romberg balance test, which requires you to hold your balance for approximately 30 seconds when standing with your feet together, head back, and eyes close. Preliminary assessment of field sobriety tests much of the available literature on sobriety testing comes from countries in which a medical examination by a physician is required to determine intoxication. The standard field sobriety test sfst is a battery of 3 tests that include the horizontal gaze nystagmus hgn, the walkandturn, and the oneleg stand tests. The field sobriety tests are a mechanism to convict people not test whether or not they are sober. Standard field sobriety test sfst program standards. This group of normal people could pass the test within nhtsa guidelines when sober, but could not when intoxicated. The standardized field sobriety tests are a witchhunt perpetuated by law enforcement on people. Dwi detection and standardized field sobriety test sfst participant manual refresher pdf, 1. While not one of the field sobriety tests approved by the national highway traffic safety administration nhtsa, the romberg test is sometimes used by law enforcement to determine if a driver is under the. Sfst administration guide horizontal gaze nystagmus instructions 1.
Preliminary breath test pbt a prearrest breath test administered during investigation of a possible dwi violator to obtain an indication of the. Standardized field sobriety testing instructions and clues. Olson traffic safety resource prosecutor idaho prosecuting attorneys association 208 8847325 jared. Conclusions based on test results three field sobriety exercises are administered. Place your right foot on the line in front of the left foot, with the heel of the right foot against the toe of the left. Follow the stimulus with your eyes, but do not move your head. Even a recent 2006 nhtsa publication admits, road tests have long been considered the gold standard for measuring driving ability. Dwi detection and standardized field sobriety testing evaluate currently used physical coordination tests to determine their relationship to intoxication and driving impairment develop more sensitive tests that would provide more reliable evidence of impairment standardize the tests and observations original research objectives 85. The impact of the new standardized field sobriety test. It is intended to facilitate planning and implementation of the dwi detection and standardized field sobriety test sfst testing course. This training, developed under the auspices and direction of the national highway traffic safety. Developed in the 1970s, these tests are scientifically validated for alcohol, and are admissible. Keep looking at the stimulus until told the test is over. The program, which was previously termed the improved sobriety testing, was validated in laboratory and field studies conducted by the southern california research institute.
Dwi detection and participant manual 87mb pdf training course presentations 19 ppts in 900mb zip dwi detection and refresher participant manual. A field study was conducted to evaluate the accuracy of the standardized field sobriety test sfst battery to assist officers in making arrest decisions at blood alcohol concentrations bacs. A colorado validation study of the standardized field sobriety test sfst battery final report submitted to colorado department of transportation november 1995 marcelline burns, ph. The standardized field sobriety test sfst is a battery of 3 tests performed during a traffic stop in order to determine if a driver is impaired by alcohol or drugs. Used to describe field sobriety tests that measure a persons ability to perform both mental and physical tasks. Results are considered along with other signs of impairment driving, physical behavior, signssymptoms, past, etc. State of colorado standards for the standardized field. Refresher course presentations 9 slide decks in 550mb zip instructor training registration. Understand enforcements role in general dwi deterrence. In contrast, formal evidentiary tests given under implied consent requirements are considered mandatory. Hs 178 r5 3 of 24 standard ized field sobriety test course session 1 introduction increase deterrence of dwi violations. After the police have arrested the driver and have stated that the driver has failed the field sobriety test, the driver has the right to challenge the validity of the test in court. Field sobriety tests as a basis for probable cause 48 one of the bases for appellants challenge, that his arrest was made without probable cause, is that the field sobriety tests were not administered in strict compliance with nhtsa standards. Police are not obliged to advise the suspect that participation in a fst or other prearrest procedures is voluntary.
Drunk driving laws and punishments may vary from state to state, but law enforcement officers all over the country use the same field sobriety tests, or fsts, to identify suspected drunk drivers every day. Standards specific to colorado are in italics and underlined. Field sobriety tests are subjective exercises that are designed to test the drivers attention and motor skills abilities. The standardized field sobriety test sfst is a battery of 3 tests performed during a traffic stop in order to determine if a driver is impaired. Feet together, arms at sides, head tilted back, eyes closed.
Keep your head still and look at and follow this stimulus with your eyes only. Section ii discusses standard field sobriety test field studies. In fact, our dwi lawyers are certified in administering the standardized field sobriety test. A colorado validation study of the standardized field.
Field sobriety tests, sometimes called roadside sobriety tests, are used to enforce dui laws and usually precede breathalyzer tests. Section iv argues why field sobriety tests are not indicative of impair. Sfst instructions 2006 pdfmachine from broadgun software. Depending on the results, the police officer may arrest the suspect for dui. By authority listed in title 49, code of federal regulations, part 7, there are fees assessed by tis for this. This training under the auspices and direction of the international association of chiefs of. Field sobriety tests montgomery county, pennsylvania dui lawyer. Distributed by the national sobriety testing resource center. The test requires you to stand on one leg of your choosing, with your foot raised approximately six inches off of the ground, with your hands at your side, and count aloud by thousands until told to stop by the officer. Standards for the standardized field sobriety testing.
Standardized field sobriety test battery a battery of tests, horizontal gaze nystagmus, walkandturn, and oneleg stand, administered and evaluated in a. Field sobriety tests manchester, new hampshire dwi lawyers. Stand with your feet together, with your hands by your side. Keep your head still and foliow this stimulus with your. Sfst scoring sheet check all that apply horizontal gaze nystagmus. Field sobriety tests are intended to help police officers make decisions about whether or not to arrest suspected impaired drivers. Anderson, deputy pitkin county sheriffs office aspen, colorado. Dwi detection and standardized field sobriety testing 82. National standards for the standardized field sobriety testing program established by the international association of chiefs of police advisory committee on highway safety with support from the national highway traffic safety administration on april 7, 1995. The impact of the new standardized field sobriety test legislation on police officers and prosecutors by kenneth stecker and kinga gorzelewski overview of public act 242 on september 22, 2016, a new law will go into effect which impacts the standardized field sobriety test sfst battery in michigan. Developed in the 1970s, these tests are scientifically validated for alcohol, and are admissible as. When the suspect fails it is only validation for the officer and serves as additional evidence. The one leg stand test is the third and final standard field sobriety test recognized by nhtsa. Validation of the standardized field sobriety test battery.
Validation of the standardized field sobriety test battery at. If the field sobriety tests are difficult to perform under normal circumstances, then we can expect officers to judge incorrectly individuals as being impaired on the basis of the field sobriety test performance as compared with scores on the normal. Standardized field sobriety testing instructions and clues designed by the chelan county sheriffs office and funded by the washington traffic safety commission horizontal gaze nystagmus i. In all us jurisdictions, participation in a field sobriety test is voluntary. Dwi detection and standardized field sobriety testing. Section iii explains the administration of and flaws of the three test battery, including horizontal gaze nystagmus test, oneleg stand test, walk and turn test. The 2018 update of the administrators guide provides an introduction and overview of the dwi detection and standardized field sobriety test sfst training program. These tests have been scientifically proven to validate legal intoxication in drivers suspected of drunken driving in 90% of cases if administered by a trained officer. Romberg balance test named after moritz heinrich romberg, a german neurologist, the romberg balance test evaluates neurological function. Apr 30, 2018 the 2018 update of the administrators guide provides an introduction and overview of the dwi detection and standardized field sobriety test sfst training program. The 3 tests that make up the sfst are the horizontal gaze nystagmus hgn, the walkandturn, and the oneleg stand tests. Nevada dui suspects may be asked to perform three standardized field sobriety tests. Do i have the right to refuse a field sobriety test for a dui. Introduction to the seated field sobriety exercises.