Thomas, Ahnell, Laraway & Smith, LLC
Colorado DUI Lawyer Explains Field Sobriety Tests
What are the major three components of the Standardized Field Sobriety Test, and is the SFST given to drivers suspected of driving under the influence of marijuana? In this video, Colorado DUI attorney Jake Johnson explains the SFST including the walk and turn, the one legged stand and the horizontal gaze nystagmus test.
To speak to a Denver DUI lawyer about your marijuana DUI case, call us at (720) 542-6148 or contact us here.
Transcription:
So, if officers think that you’re under the influence of marijuana, it can go a few different ways. A general officer has had the regular training that they’ve been taught in their generalized school, and so they’re going to do a few tests. The big three are horizontal gaze nystagmus, that’s a finger test where they have you follow your eyes and what they’re looking for there is jerking of your eyes, that your eyes are not able to focus, things of that nature. The next one that they do is called the walk and turn. They put you into position and you do nine steps forward, you turn, you do nine steps back. They’re looking for balance problems, they’re looking for problems that you’re not able to do one thing and pay attention to the next direction. The third one that they do is called the one legged stand. It’s exactly like it sounds, where they have you stand on one leg and they have you count out loud and again what they’re looking for is somebody that can’t follow directions and do something at the same time.