What is “Field Sobriety”?

After the police officer stops you, he must also have reason to suspect that you were driving after drinking or under the influence of an impairing substance to arrest you for DWI. To prove this, the officer will indicate in court his observations about your physical appearance and disposition such as slurred speech, red and glassy eyes, the odor of alcohol on your breath or that you appeared incoherent. The officer may also use at this point what is called field sobriety test. Field sobriety tests can include reciting the alphabet forward or backwards, the pencil to eye test, the hand to nose test, walking the yellow line forward and backwards, and any other number of other coordination type of tests that the officer may think will help to determine whether you have been drinking or under the influence of drugs.