Michael Kramer, Attorney at law

1311 Mamaroneck Ave
Suite 340
White Plains, NY 10605
mk@michaelkramerlaw.com

Call for a Free, 20-min,
Traffic Ticket Strategy Session

(914) 709-7161

Michael Kramer, Attorney at law

Interviewer: What is the purpose of the field sobriety tests?

Michael Kramer: Field sobriety tests are meant to test your ability to perform multiple tasks at the same time. This is based on the theory that an intoxicated individual cannot divide his or her attention among several things at once.

Interviewer: When was this developed and is it still administered today? Is it mandatory for the police officer to do this?

The Field Sobriety Tests Are Administered to Determine If There Is Probable Cause to Arrest a Driver for Driving under the Influence

Michael Kramer: The tests were developed all the way back in the 1950’s. The National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration has been working on standardizing these tests so that police officers across the nation have the same set of rules to administer and judge these tests.

These tests are usually employed not as proof of guilt but to determine if there’s reasonable or probable cause to arrest someone for driving under the influence.

The Tests Are Standardized, Meaning They Should Be Administered the Same Way, Every Time

Interviewer: What are some of the aspects that make them standardized? What does standardized mean?

Michael Kramer: Standardized means there are specific tests that are to be administered. There are specific instructions that are supposed to be given in the way these tests are to be conducted and there are standardized clues to look for in determining whether a motorist passed or failed the test.

Is There a Scientific Basis for the Field Sobriety Tests?

Interviewer: Is there a scientific basis for these tests?

Michael Kramer: There’s not really a scientific basis for these tests. They’re not scientific at all. They don’t really have a scientific basis so they’re not admissible as proof of the ultimate issue in a case as to whether a person is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of driving while intoxicated. They’re only presented as some evidence in addition to the observations of the police officer that a person is DWI.

Michael Kramer, Esq.

Call for a Free, 20-min,
Traffic Ticket Strategy Session
(914) 709-7161