Have you been charged with an impaired driving offense in Florida? Perhaps you know someone who is facing this type of criminal charge. In making decisions about how to approach a defense, it is important to understand the different elements that went into the arrest. One of these may well be field sobriety tests.
As explained by FieldSobrietyTests.org, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has approved the use of three different tests to be used by officers when investigating potentially impaired drivers. One of these is referred to as the one-legged stand test. This test is meant to measure both your ability to understand and follow directions exactly as given as well as to measure your coordination. It is said to have an approximate accuracy rate of 65 percent in its ability to properly determine intoxication.
There are two parts to the test, starting with the officer giving verbal instructions coupled with a demonstration. The second part of the test is your execution of those instructions to a tee. Your leg must be lifted six inches off the ground and your hands must not leave your sides. While counting, your eyes must remain on your foot and you are not to stop until instructed to do so by the officer. Your counting must follow a specific pattern. Age, physical limitations and even shoes or clothing make passing this test difficult for even a sober person.
This information is not intended to provide legal advice but is instead meant to give Florida residents an overview of one of the field sobriety tests used by officers when drunk driving may be suspected.