Field Sobriety Test Defenses

Most of the so-called "field sobriety tests" are nothing more than roadside agility exercises designed to make a motorist seem intoxicated. Many law enforcement officers have no idea what they’re doing administering these tests; they had several hours of training during their academy days and usually absolutely no training since then.

There are only three field sobriety tests that have any scientific validation whatsoever, and then only when performed and scored exactly according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration procedure. If your lawyer has been trained according to the NHTSA guidelines, then he/she will be prepared to challenge everything the officer did wrong in administering the tests at roadside.

? Officer fails to give the only three tests validated by NHTSA studies.

? Officer fails to instruct the tests according to NHTSA standards.

? Officer fails to score the tests according to NHTSA standards.