Officer has many tools at their disposal to use in instances where they believe someone has driven under the influence. If they pull you over suspecting the same, then you may end up dealing with one or more of them.
Field sobriety tests make up one of the many tools they may use. But what should you know about these tests? How can the results impact you?
Understanding officer bias
VeryWell Mind discusses the impact of field sobriety tests (FSTs) and how a failed one may affect you. Failed field sobriety tests sound bad, after all. However, field sobriety tests actually exist as the weakest of an officer’s DUI detection tools. In many cases, they do not even prove a useful pillar of evidence in a court case.
This is due to the fact that field sobriety tests – even standardized ones – rely on an officer’s perception of a scene. This introduces the possibility of officer bias, i.e. the officer’s personal views and opinions influencing the way they look at your response to the test.
How courts view FST results
Courts understand that this bias potential exists, and officers also know this. They often use field sobriety test results as supplementary evidence, or simply use it as a means to prove probable cause for further testing like breath or blood analysis tests.
If you face a failed field sobriety test, do not overly worry about its impact. However, you should still treat it as a potential threat that can end up being used against you and should take it seriously. Consider contacting an attorney for more information and help moving forward in your case.
