10.4 Notes

Field Sobriety Tests

Objectives

Describe commonly employed field sobriety tests to assess alcohol impairment

Field Sobriety Testing

Used to determine the suspect’s physical impairment

Determines whether the evidential test is justified

Portable, handheld device is used but is considered nonevidential and serves to establish probable cause

Field Sobriety Tests

Horizontal gaze nystagmus (HGN) Involuntary jerking of the eye as it

moves to the side following a pen light

http://www.shorewood-hills.org/departments/pd/courtsfst.jpg

Field Sobriety Tests

Walk and turn Stand heel to toe and

listen to and comprehend test instructions

Walk in a straight line touching heel to toe for nine steps, turn around, repeat

Field Sobriety Tests

One leg stand Maintain balance standing with heels

together listening to the instructions Stand on one foot holding the other

several inches off the ground for 30 seconds and count out loud

10.3 & 10.4 Questions

1. Explain how a fuel cell detector measure blood alcohol concentration.

2. Name the key to the accuracy of a breath test.

3. Define slope detector and explain how it works.

4. Identify the types of tests included in a field sobriety test.

5. Identify and describe two divided-attention tasks administered during a field sobriety test.