Non-Standardized Field Sobriety Tests

In the 1970s, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) combed through hundreds of field sobriety tests and picked out three that they believed were the most reliable indicators of an individual’s intoxication. While the quality of these tests is still being debated, there are a host of other tests that were rejected by the NHTSA. Columbus DUI lawyer Peter Binning is familiar with all aspects of the Standardized Field Sobriety Test and knows how to defend you against sobriety tests that have not been scientifically validated.

Some of these non-standardized sobriety tests include the finger-to-nose test, counting, saying the alphabet (forwards or backwards), or picking a coin from a flat surface. These and other tests were rejected because they were found to have no scientific validity; that is, they cannot be relied on to determine whether or not a person is drunk. However, officers can still administer these tests and testify about the result in court. Since the jury will not be informed that these tests have no scientific value, they will categorize your “poor performance” as evidence that you were intoxicated when reaching their verdict.

Hiring a skilled Columbus DUI lawyer like Peter Binning means hiring the experience and training needed to represent your DUI case in court. He can re-educate the judge or jury on the inaccuracy of these non-standardized tests and why they should not be used against you. Call today for your no-obligation consultation.