Indicators of Intoxication

The process of the DUI Sobriety Test begins with the law enforcer’s reasonable suspicion of DWI. If there is reasonable evidence to arrest and detain the driver with intoxication, then he/she will be stopped. As investigations start, the driver will be asked questions and the officer observes signs of intoxication. These are obvious indicators:
• Alcohol odor and containers from the breath or in the vehicle
• Blood shot or watery eyes
• Flushed face
• Droopy and tired eyelids
• Trouble understanding and having slurred unintelligent response to questions.
• Fumbling for driver’s license and registration
• Driver’s admission of alcohol consumption

Disadvantages of the DUI Test

Once the officer confirms his suspicion, some of the DUI Sobriety Tests are carried out. The DUI Sobriety Test has its controversies. In some cases, the officer may be highly opinionated before he carries out the test. Sober people also fail to give an excellent result, while some healthy ones give false results. The old, overweight and those with medical conditions may have inaccurate results.

Types of DUI Test

There are several DUI Sobriety Tests that can be administered. The common FSTs include:
• Horizontal gaze Nystagmus test- an object is put in front of the driver’s eyes and the eye movement observed.
• Walk-and-turn – a straight line walk, heel-to-toe.
• One-leg-stand
• Modified- position-of-attention – also Romberg Test (put feet together, lay head back, close eyes for thirty seconds)
• Finger-to-nose – tip the head back, close eyes, use the tip index finger to touch the tip of nose)
• Recite the alphabet partly or as a whole.
• Touch each finger with thumb of the same hand counting as each is touched.
• Counting backwards from a number such as 50, 70 or 100
• Breathe into a PBT (Portable or Preliminary Breath Tester)

Due to inaccuracy of Field Sobriety Tests (FST) a Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs) with 3-test battery is being adopted as part of the DUI Sobriety Tests, from recommendation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

This article is not intended as legal advice

For legal advice and information about DWI in Louisiana, click here to visit the Bloom Legal LLC website.