The police can pull over vehicles that are under suspicion of engaging in criminal activity or may engage in criminal activities. One example of suspicious activity is drunk driving. When an officer pulls over a driver for drunk driving, they’ll conduct an interview to determine if the driver is, in fact, inebriated.
During this interview, the police may use several sobriety tests at their disposal. Learning about these tests could help you during a traffic stop. Here’s what you should know:
Field sobriety tests
The first kind of test the police might conduct is a field sobriety test. A field sobriety test is a kind of physical examination. There are four kinds of field sobriety tests you should know about:
- Horizontal gaze nystagmus test: a test that determines a driver’s ability to focus
- Walk-and-turn test: the driver may have to walk in a straight line to show their ability to walk and balance
- One-legged stand test: another kind of test that helps determine whether a driver can keep balance
- Non-standardized field sobriety tests: any other test is considered non-standardized and not sanctioned by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
These tests are graded by an officer’s best judgment. As a result, many of these tests are misjudged and people are wrongly charged with drunk driving charges.
Chemical tests
The police may also ask drivers to do chemical tests. Chemical tests use science to determine whether a driver is drunk, which can make them more accurate. Here are some common chemical tests drivers may be asked to take:
- Urine test
- Blood test
- Breath test
Urine and blood tests are often inaccurate. Breath tests are typically carried by the police and are known to reward an accurate sobriety reading.
If you’re pulled over by the police under the suspicion of drunk driving, then it’s important to promptly seek legal guidance.