..instead of making him do all those silly movements?
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UK_Bladerunner — 17 years ago(April 24, 2008 06:23 AM)
Correct me if i'm wrong.. but in some counties in the states they do the 'Walking in a straight line & Finger to nose' tests first before moving onto the Breath test and then possibly a blood test last
Gives the officers a general idea and I guess it does'nt waste unessesary blow tubes if the officer has reason to suspect a DUI at the point of the initial first 2 testsMan Has Made His Match Now It's His Problem
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Gwasgray — 17 years ago(June 26, 2008 05:59 AM)
But those walk the line and finger to nose tests don't PROVE that the person is over the limit, whereas a breathalyser gives absolute proof of a person's alcohol and surely proof is needed before somebody receives a conviction? To be honest those silly tests look easy to pass even if you were fairly drunk, in Britain the police don't bother with any of that stuff, they just move straight onto the breathalyser, those plastic blow tubes can't cost anything.
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opticalsnare — 17 years ago(December 20, 2008 07:19 PM)
Ahhh but your wrong. You know what happens when you drink on a emtpy belly right you get drunk quicker and you feel like you had a few more than just 1 or 2 pints. If you were to go onto the Breathalyzer it would only account for the amount of alcohol you have drank in units.
You could for example drink a pint feel real pissed because you havnt eaten anything and yet the Breathalyzer only registers a pint because it is only measuring the amount of units of alcohol you have taken. But your body and mind is feeling much more drunk due to the lack of food which soaks up the alcohol and slows the process for it to enter the blood stream.
You know the saying right "Dont drink on a empty stomach"
The test shown is very right, if you cannot perform a test which involves balance and coordination then you are unfit to drive a vehicle.
IMO people should not drink and drive at all.
Its like saying
"I killed somebody today, i had a few drinks but i was under the limit so it wasnt my fault right?" -
zap644 — 12 years ago(May 14, 2013 09:48 AM)
In most (possibly all) states roadside breath tests are not admissible in court. They're too inaccurate, but they're enough to haul you into the station to take a more sophisticated breath test or a blood test.
I believe California allows the driver to choose breath or blood.
I've seen them administer FSTs (Field Sobriety Tests) before administering the PBT (Portable Breath Test).
IMO, the FSTs disfavor older people who are more likely to have balance problems than younger people.
If you think they're easy, the next time you get drunk try them out. I thought Freddy was doing okay until the last few steps - and he also failed to turn and walk back. (following instructions is important).
Very often they'll make you do all of the tests so they can use it as evidence against you. It's actually a tough choice to make on whether or not you play along with them. Even if you pass, they may still administer the PBT.
OTOH, if you refuse the FSTs they'll go straight to the PBT and even if you're under they might still haul you in for a more accurate test.
Other tests they like to do are to count backwards, say the alphabet backwards, say only part of the alphabet (e.g. from 'J' through 'X'), close your eyes and estimate 30 seconds, hold one leg a foot off the ground for 30 seconds.
Those may sound easy, but if you're wasted it's also easy to mess them up and then it's good evidence against you.
They also like to do something called the "horizontal gaze nystagmus" test (look it up - too long to explain here).
I've heard some lawyers say to refuse all tests, but these days a lot of states have "implied consent" and I've heard some states will actually forcibly draw blood if you refuse. If not, expect a refusal to mean automatic loss of license.
Of course the best advice is not to drive after drinking at all. I don't. I've known a few people who have been arrested and it's a major pain in the ass (and expensive). Cabs are cheaper. Having more booze delivered to your home is cheaper. Planning ahead (either by having a designated driver or enough booze at home so you don't run out) is cheaper still.
Not drinking is cheapest of all, but what's the fun in that?
Oh, and from watching a lot of COPS and similar shows very often the last FST they ask you to do is turn around and put your hands behind your back.