Many Georgia DUI cases rely on the defendant’s performance on the Standardized Field Sobriety Test (SFST). Field sobriety tests are designed to measure a person’s level of intoxication by seeing how well they can focus on mental and physical tasks at the same time. There are three field tests that have been studied enough that they have been considered—by law enforcement, anyway—to be the three most accurate sobriety tests. However, there are a number of other tests that do not have this distinction, and should therefore not be relied on in a court of law.
The three standardized sobriety tests—the Walk and Turn, the One Leg Stand, and the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus test—have been “certified” by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Even so, there is doubt surrounding their validity. Non-standardized tests, on the other hand, have little to no scientific legitimacy.
In order to be considered scientifically valid, a test must be developed by scientists following a strict protocol, conducted under controlled conditions, and published in a peer-reviewed journal so other experts can verify the results. While the SFST is touted as being standardized, it has not gone through this rigorous peer-review process.
If you have been arrested for a DUI in Georgia, call attorney Simon Peed today for your free case evaluation. Don’t allow a questionable sobriety test to dictate the outcome of your case. Simon Peed will carefully review the facts and craft a defense strategy tailored to your unique situation
