The officer had me perform several tests. What’s the purpose of these tests?

Answer:

Law enforcement officers offer suspects the opportunity “to prove their innocence” by performing Field Sobriety Tests (FSTs). The true purpose of these tests, however, is to gather evidence to use against you at trial. There are two types of FSTs: Standardized Field Sobriety Tests and Non-Standardized Field Sobriety Tests. The three Standardized Field Sobriety Tests are the Walk-and-Turn Test, the One-Leg-Stand Test, and the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus Test. Non-Standardized Tests include the Finger Dexterity Test, the Alphabet Test, and the Romberg Balance Test. In particular, officers must strictly comply with the required procedures when performing the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests. If your attorney can show that the officer did not strictly comply, he can keep it from being admitted as evidence against you, making it more difficult for the state to prove your guilt at trial.