| If a police officer suspects you of driving under the | | | | These tests vary in their accuracy and in how they |
| influence of alcohol, he or she may subject you to field | | | | are carried out each time. A non-standardized test |
| sobriety tests. There are a variety of field sobriety | | | | administered by an officer may include: |
| tests, both those standardized by the National Highway | | | | - Finger to nose. The driver must close his or her eyes. |
| Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) and those | | | | Then the driver is instructed to touch his or her own |
| that are not standardized. | | | | nose with an index finger, brought around from behind |
| Standardized Field Sobriety Tests | | | | the body. |
| The NHTSA standardized certain field sobriety tests | | | | - Hand pat test. The driver must extend a hand, palm |
| by setting guidelines about how they are administered, | | | | up, and then place the other hand on top, palm facing |
| in an attempt to make the tests more accurate. These | | | | down. The driver is instructed tap the bottom palm |
| tests include: | | | | with the top palm, first with the top palm facing up, and |
| - One-legged stand. The driver must stand with heels | | | | then with the top palm facing down. Often the driver is |
| together and arms at the side. Then, he or she must | | | | asked to count aloud the number of pats. |
| raise one leg a short distance off the ground and | | | | - Rhomberg stationary balance test. The driver must |
| count out loud until the officer says to stop. The officer | | | | stand with feet together and lean back the head, |
| is looking for the subject to lose balance or any | | | | facing the sky. At the same time, he or she must hold |
| involuntary bodily functions. | | | | he arms straight out to the side. |
| - Walk and turn. A subject must take nine heel-to-toe | | | | Other non-standardized tests include: |
| steps along a straight line, turn, and take nine | | | | - Reciting the alphabet or a portion of the alphabet. |
| heel-to-toe steps back to the starting place. The | | | | - Counting backwards. |
| officer wants to see if the driver can keep his or her | | | | - Standing with the feet together and tipping the head |
| balance and follow instructions. | | | | back while retaining balance. |
| - Horizontal gaze nystagmus test. An officer will place | | | | - Counting the number of fingers the officer holds in |
| an object, such as a pen, 12 inches away from the | | | | the air. |
| drivers face. The officer will then move the object | | | | For more information about field sobriety tests, their |
| from side to side and observe the subject's eyes, | | | | accuracy, and other issues related to DUI, visit the |
| looking for involuntary jerking or trembling. | | | | website of Rhode Island drunk driving defense lawyer |
| Non-Standardized Field Sobriety Tests | | | | James Powderly. |