When stopped on suspicion of DUI/DWI, officers may ask you to take a standardized field sobriety test (SFST or FST). This test is conducted before an arrest for DUI/DWI. Its purpose is to help officers determine if you are in fact driving under the influence, as probable cause for an arrest.
You are highly likely to be asked to take a field sobriety test – not all officers are equipped with portable breathalyzers. Many officers prefer the field sobriety test because it can indicate impairment from drug use as well as alcohol, which a breath test cannot.
Conducted at the roadside, the field sobriety test involves a series of “standardized” (by the book) physical maneuvers that in theory will be easy if you are legally sober and difficult if you are not. For instance, touching your nose while looking up at the sky, standing on one leg, and so on.
It is up to the police officer to decide if you have passed or failed the field sobriety test. Depending on their assessment, they will decide to arrest you for DUI and/or DWI or release you, or request you take a roadside breath test.
Can you refuse a field sobriety test?
Field sobriety tests are 100% voluntarily. You have the right to refuse and there are no penalties whatsoever for refusing to take a field sobriety test. (See You CAN Refuse a Field Sobriety Test for more details.)
Should you refuse? Yes, absolutely.
The field sobriety test is seriously flawed:
- It is not in any way a scientific test and results are notoriously unreliable. For instance, an extremely nervous but legally sober driver may be judged as intoxicated as a confident but over-the-limit driver.
- Although the test is “standardized” in practice officers can and often do fail to conduct the test correctly.
- It is almost certain you will fail the field sobriety test. Your performance will be subject to the personal opinion and judgment of a police officer who already believes you are intoxicated and is therefore biased against you.
- If (when) you fail the test you will definitely be arrested for DUI / DWI.
What will happen if you refuse the test?
If you do not take the field sobriety test (and also refuse a roadside breath test) the officer cannot use a failed test as probable cause for an arrest.
Instead, they must decide if their “observations” amount to sufficient probable cause for an arrest. For instance, aggressive and hostile behavior, the odor of alcohol, and self-incriminating responses to questions. (This is why how you conduct yourself at a DUI traffic stop is important.)
If they decide that they do they will arrest you. However, you will be in a stronger position to fight a conviction for DUI and/or DWI than if you had been arrested for failing the test. (Remember, an arrest is not a conviction). Here’s why:
Once arrested you will be required to take a blood alcohol (BAC) test at the police station. However, your DUI lawyer can contest whether the officer’s observations did in fact provide sufficient probable cause for the arrest in the first place. If successful, the results of the BAC test will be inadmissible and your case dismissed.
Your DUI lawyer will not have the opportunity to defend you in this way if you have provided clear probable cause by taking and failing the test.
How to refuse the field sobriety test
Police officers seldom advise drivers that they have the right to refuse a field sobriety test. Remain confident that you do have the right to refuse.
However, do not provoke the officer by aggressively asserting your rights. Hostile and uncooperative behavior can be considered consciousness of guilt and contribute to an officer’s decision that, test or no test, they have probable cause to make an arrest for DUI/DWI.
A less confrontational approach is to ask the officer (politely) if you have the right to refuse the test, even though you know the answer already. When they tell you that you do, politely inform them that you choose not to take the test.
- Disregard any attempts by the police officer to make you feel that you are not acting wisely by refusing the test.
- Do not answer questions about why you do not want to take the test. Tell the officer that you simply choose not to take the test.
- Do not volunteer or agree to take the roadside breath test instead.
Get an overview of all your DUI test rights: see Submit to a DUI Test or Refuse?
Copyright © 2010 Caroline Mackenzie
Thank you! This is very well written, informative and understandable.
The police are going to do what ever they want with you. I was arrested sober recently. I went along with their FST’s. SO”B’s took me to the jail, towed my truck, confiscated my license. No alcohol, I blew 0.0 at the jail. They also wanted blood, to check for drugs. They still held me all night, cut me loose with a court date. They must be planting drugs in my blood , why would I get a court date when I did nothing wrong? How many tests are the police allowed to take? I was asked my choice of blood breath, urine. I chose breath-0.0 result. Then told I had to give blood because the officer was just sure I was on drugs. I’m unemployed and sleep all day. he thought I was too alert for the time of day, 2:30am.
How did your case go? What happened at court?
I passed 3 fst by 3 different officers and the last one said “I’m going in, I’ll take him anyway” I think it was in retaliation of my friends laughing at them for hassling me. After I blew a passing breath the officer demanded blood anyway, I didn’t know my rights and if I could refuse, I hate needles. Cited for what I think they call a “wet wreckless” because I admitted to having 2 beers earlier in the evening, I thought being honest was a good thing but turns out that gave them probable cause to hassle me. When I got the police report it was chock full of lies, completely different story that what happened, outrageous lies, I figure what is the point of them busting me if they aren’t going to try to make it stick by including necessary details to support the arrest. 2nd time in my life and there have been many that the police have lied and each time it was a CHP officer California Highway Patrol must have a very difficult time busting people to resort to that kind of law enforcement. I was .02 under the legal limit and my lawyer claims I might as well take his plea agreement as to fight it will cost me as much and I may even likely lose somehow, I didn’t like it being on my record but my lawyers hands were shaking so muchy I didn’t have confidence he didn’t need a drink himself. Having a lawyer usually reduces punishment time equal to their fee.