Field Sobriety Tests
What Are Field Sobriety Tests?
Field sobriety tests are roadside exercises officers commonly use during an OVI investigation to look for signs they associate with impairment. How the tests were explained, demonstrated, administered, and scored—as well as the conditions under which they were performed—can become important issues in an OVI case.
The standardized field sobriety tests commonly used in Ohio include the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus, Walk-and-Turn, and One-Leg Stand tests. The officer’s instructions, observations, and interpretation of a driver’s performance may later become evidence in the case.
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Key Things to Know
A quick overview of the most important issues surrounding field sobriety testing in an Ohio OVI investigation.
Test Administration
How an officer instructs, demonstrates, and administers a field sobriety test can matter when evaluating the results.
Clue Counting
Officers look for specific observations, commonly called “clues,” when evaluating performance on standardized field sobriety tests.
Testing Conditions
Road surface, lighting, weather, footwear, physical limitations, and other circumstances may affect how a person performs.
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Explore related topics to learn more about how field sobriety tests are administered, what officers look for, and how testing conditions and officer observations may affect an OVI case. Click a topic below to learn more.
OVI Pocket Guide
The essential quick-reference for an Ohio OVI stop.
Keep the OVI Pocket Guide on your phone before you ever need it. It explains what we generally recommend in every situation, including police questioning, field sobriety tests, searches, chemical testing, and what to do if you are arrested.
Save it to your phone. Keep it available when you need it.
Experienced Ohio OVI Defense Attorney
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Explore OVI Defense
Explore the major areas of Ohio OVI defense, from the court process and police investigations to field sobriety testing, chemical testing, license issues, and defense strategies.
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