Mississippi law enforcement may give field sobriety tests to people suspected of DUI. They may use standardized or non-standardized tests. There are important things to understand about each individual type of test.
First, only standardized field sobriety tests have a set standard. These tests tend to hold up in court a little better because of that. There are only three types of standardized tests. They include:
- The horizontal gaze nystagmus
- The walk-and-turn
- The one-legged stand
The last two tests check your balance and fine motor skills. Inebriated individuals have trouble with balance. They are often incapable of walking in a straight line or standing on one foot. In some cases, they may not even be able to stand in place without moving. The first test checks for small vibrations in the eye’s movement. This shake is more apparent in the eyes of someone who has been drinking.
Non-standardized tests are more varied. They can involve counting backward, reciting the alphabet and doing other balance tests. As these tests have no set standard, they are not often used in court. But not even standardized tests are foolproof. There are other factors that can affect a person’s results that have nothing to do with sobriety. For that reason, they are often used as supplementary evidence.
Are you curious to read more about field sobriety tests? Do you want to learn how standardized tests can be used in court? Are you interested to see how effective these test results are in a court of law? If so, you can visit our linked web page here for more information.
