Standardized Field Sobriety Testing
The Standardized Field Sobriety Test (SFST) is a battery of three tests administered and evaluated in a standardized manner to obtain validated indicators of impairment and establish probable cause for arrest. These tests were developed as a result of research sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and conducted by the Southern California Research Institute. A formal program of training was developed and is available through NHTSA to help police officers become more skillful at detecting DWI suspects, describing the behavior of these suspects, and presenting effective testimony in court. Formal administration and accreditation of the program is provided through IACP.
The three tests
of the SFST are:
1. the horizontal gaze nystagmus (HGN)
2. the walk-and-turn
3. the one-leg stand.
These tests are administered systematically
and are evaluated according to measured responses
of the suspect.
HGN Testing
Horizontal gaze nystagmus is an involuntary jerking of the eyeball which occurs naturally as the eyes gaze to the side. Under normal circumstances, nystagmus occurs when the eyes are rotated at high peripheral angles. However, when a person is impaired by alcohol, nystagmus is exaggerated and may occur at lesser angles. An alcohol-impaired person will also often have difficulty smoothly tracking a moving object. In the HGN test, the officer observes the eyes of a suspect as the suspect follows a slowly moving object such as a pen or small flashlight, horizontally with his eyes. The examiner looks for three indicators of impairment in each eye: if the eye cannot follow a moving object smoothly, if jerking is distinct when the eye is at maximum deviation, and if the angle of onset of jerking is within 45 degrees of center. If, between the two eyes, four or more clues appear, the suspect likely has a BAC of 0.10 or greater. NHTSA research indicates that this test allows proper classification of approximately 77 percent of suspects. HGN may also indicate consumption of seizure medications, phencyclidine, a variety of inhalants, barbiturates, and other depressants.
Divided Attention Testing
The walk-and-turn test and one-leg stand test are "divided attention" tests that are easily performed by most sober people. They require a suspect to listen to and follow instructions while performing simple physical movements. Impaired persons have difficulty with tasks requiring their attention to be divided between simple mental and physical exercises. In the walk-and-turn test, the subject is directed to take nine steps, heel-to-toe, along a straight line. After taking the steps, the suspect must turn on one foot and return in the same manner in the opposite direction. The examiner looks for seven indicators of impairment: if the suspect cannot keep balance while listening to the instructions, begins before the instructions are finished, stops while walking to regain balance, does not touch heel-to-toe, uses arms to balance, loses balance while turning, or takes an incorrect number of steps. NHTSA research indicates that 68 percent of individuals who exhibit two or more indicators in the performance of the test will have a BAC of 0.10 or greater. In the one-leg stand test, the suspect is instructed to stand with one foot approximately six inches off the ground and count aloud by thousands (One thousand-one, one thousand-two, etc.) until told to put the foot down. The officer times the subject for a 30 seconds. The officer looks for four indicators of impairment, including swaying while balancing, using arms to balance, hopping to maintain balance, and putting the foot down. NHTSA research indicates that 65 percent of individuals who exhibit two or more such indicators in the performance of the test will have a BAC of 0.10 of greater. The effectiveness of SFST in court testimony and evidence depends upon the cumulative total of impairment indicators provided by the three-test battery. The greater the number of indicators, the more convincing the testimony. Because SFST is administered according to national standards and is supported by significant research, it has greater credibility than mere subjective testimony.
Alternative Testing Methods
Sometimes, an officer will encounter a disabled driver who cannot perform the SFST. In such cases, some other battery of tests such as counting aloud, reciting the alphabet, or finger dexterity tests may be administered. If the proper motions are filed, these test are usually not admissible at trial.Alcohol
is a general term denoting a family of organic
chemicals with common properties. Members of
this family include ethanol, methanol, isopropanol,
and others. This introduction discusses the
physical, chemical, and physiological aspects
of the most commonly ingested of these ethanol.
Alcohol (ethanol) is a clear, volatile liquid
that burns (oxidizes) easily. It has a slight,
characteristic odor and is very soluble in water.
Alcohol is an organic compound composed of carbon,
oxygen, and hydrogen; its chemical formula is
C2H5OH.
Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant
and it is the central nervous system which is
the bodily system that is most severely affected
by alcohol (see chart below). The degree to
which the central nervous system function is
impaired is directly proportional to the concentration
of alcohol in the blood.
When ingested, alcohol passes from the stomach
into the small intestine, where it is rapidly
absorbed into the blood and distributed throughout
the body. Because it is distributed so quickly
and thoroughly the alcohol can affect the central
nervous system even in small concentrations.
In low concentrations, alcohol reduces inhibitions.
As blood alcohol concentration increases, a
person's response to stimuli decreases markedly,
speech becomes slurred, and he or she becomes
unsteady and has trouble walking. With very
high concentrations - greater than 0.35 grams/100
milliliters of blood (equivalent to 0.35 grams/210
liters of breath ) - a person can become comatose
and die. The American Medical Association has
defined the blood alcohol concentration level
of impairment for all people to be 0.04 grams/100
milliliters of blood (equivalent to .04 grams/210
liters of breath). The following is a generally
accepted guide to the affects of alcohol.
Stages of alcohol intoxication
| BAC (g/100 ml of bloodor g/210 l of breath) | Stage | Clinical symptoms |
| 0.01 - 0.05 | Subclinical | Behavior nearly normal by ordinary observation |
| 0.03 - 0.12 | Euphoria | Mild euphoria, sociability, talkitivenessIncreased self-confidence; decreased inhibitionsDiminution of attention, judgment and controlBeginning of sensory-motor impairmentLoss of efficiency in finer performance tests |
| 0.09 - 0.25 | Excitement | Emotional instability; loss of critical judgmentImpairment of perception, memory and comprehensionDecreased sensitory response; increased reaction timeReduced visual acuity; peripheral vision and glare recoverySensory-motor incoordination; impaired balanceDrowsiness |
| 0.18 - 0.30 | Confusion | Disorientation, mental confusion; dizzinessExaggerated emotional statesDisturbances of vision and of perception of color, form, motion and dimensionsIncreased pain thresholdIncreased muscular incoordination; staggering gait; slurred speechApathy, lethargy |
| 0.25 - 0.40 | Stupor | General inertia; approaching loss of motor functionsMarkedly decreased response to stimuliMarked muscular incoordination; inability to stand or walkVomiting; incontinenceImpaired consciousness; sleep or stupor |
| 0.35 - 0.50 | Coma | Complete unconsciousnessDepressed or abolished reflexesSubnormal body temperatureIncontinence |
Absorption
Alcohol is absorbed from all parts of the gastrointestinal
tract largely by simple diffusion into the blood.
However the small intestine is by far the most
efficient region of the gastrointestinal tract
for alcohol absorption because of its very large
surface area. In a fasting individual, it is
generally agreed that 20% to 25% of a dose of
alcohol is absorbed from the stomach and 75%
to 80% is absorbed from the small intestine.
Because of this peak blood alcohol concentrations
are achieved in fasting people within 0.5 to
2.0 hours, while non-fasting people exhibit
peak alcohol concentrations within 1.0 to as
much as 6.0 hours.
Distribution
Alcohol has a high affinity for water and is
therefore found in body tissues and fluids inasmuch
as they contain water. Absorbed alcohol is rapidly
carried throughout the body in the blood and
once absorption of alcohol is complete an equilibrium
occurs such that blood at all points in the
system contains approximately the same concentration
of alcohol.
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