Commonly used field sobriety tests

  • The commonly used field sobriety tests include the horizontal gaze nystagmus test, the walk and turn, and the one leg stand. Describe what these tests are and what police officers are looking for when asking a suspect to perform these tests. • The breathalyzer test can be conducted to determine a person’s blood alcohol level. How does the test work? Is there a difference in the reliability of hand-held tests versus the ones at the police station? • There are criteria for maximum blood alcohol levels in commercial and noncommercial drivers. What are they? What does blood alcohol level mean in terms of how the body absorbs and eliminates alcohol?