A field sobriety process is one that typically occurs when you’re pulled-over for operating under the influence. The officer will approach you, normally engaged in some simple conversation. You’ll find that he’s leaning in or very close to you, one to observe your eyes, your facial expressions and to see if there’s alcohol on your breath. That’s the key factor in preceding. Once the officer believes from any of those observations that you maybe operating under the influence, he’s going to engage in a series of tests. The first involves an eye test with a little light and he’s going to ask you to follow the pen light or flash light with your eyes. The purpose of that test is to see whether there’s smooth movement of your eyeballs or jerky movement. A jerky movement would be an indicator of operating under the influence or being intoxicated. The physical test, and the officer will ask you to step out of the car to perform them, but typically we’re talking about walking a straight line, one-foot ahead of the other, counting backwards not always in a numerical sequence, putting your head back and touching your nose with a tip of your finger and other test including turning on a straight line again, keeping your arms up without stumbling and having a smooth gait. These are all difficult. In fact, many people say “I can’t do that even if I’m sober. How could I possibly do that after a drink or two?” Then, there lies a part of the problem. It is a tough test under any conditions. So, if you’ve had a few drinks, you’re going to have a problem performing well on the field sobriety test.
This informational blog post was brought to you by Marc N. Needelman, an experienced Bloomfield, Connecticut DUI and DWI Lawyer.