Carolina Criminal & DUI Lawyer BlogWhen a law enforcement officer in North Carolina suspects impaired driving, they may conduct Standarized Field Sobriety Tests 
(SFSTs) to gauge whether enough evidence exists for an arrest or further chemical testing. Roadside dexterity tests—commonly the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test, the Walk-and-Turn test, and the One-Leg Stand test—remain a subject of debate. Questions arise about whether these tests are truly “standardized,” whether they reliably they measure impairment or are overly subjective, and how courts treat SFSTs as evidence.
This post explains some of the history of SFSTs, what each test entails, and why a DUI defense lawyer might challenge how an officer administered them. If you have been asked to perform SFST or want legal advice on DWI defenses, call or text the Powers Law Firm at 704-342-4357, or email Bill Powers at Bill@CarolinaAttorneys.com. An informed understanding of roadside tests may help in deciding how to respond during a traffic stop and in developing a defense strategy tailored to the specifics of your individual DUI charges.