What is a standardized field sobriety test?

A standardized field sobriety test (SFST) is a police tool to help the officer try to identify an intoxicated driver. 

The three SFSTs are as follows:

• 1. The horizontal gaze nystagmus (HGN) test
  2. The one-leg stand test
  3. The walk and turn test

These three tests were developed by researchers funded by the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). 

According to those researchers, a failure of any of the tests means the person has an alcohol concentration of .08 or more. 

Of importance is the fact that there is a great ongoing debate about the validity, accuracy, and reliability of both the researchers’ conclusions and their tests.

There is no implied consent requirement that a person submit to a law enforcement officer’s request to take these SFSTs or any other police motor skill coordination exercise. 

Indeed, many knowledgeable people refer to the SFSTs as nothing more than “roadside gymnastics.”