Dallas DWI Attorney

Texas FIELD SOBRIETY TESTS for
DWI

In order to arrest someone for DWI, most
police officers follow the "standardized" tests
designed to detect intoxication.

1) HGN: Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus test.
This test checks your eyes, and whether your
eyes jerk involuntarily while following an
object.   Officers look for 1) smooth pursuit,
2) nystagmus (jerking in the eye), 3)
nystagmus before 45 degrees. There are 6
clues the officer is trained to look for, if 4 are
present, they consider this evidence of
intoxication.

The tests must be performed correctly for the
results to be valid.

2) Walk and Turn:   Where the officer has
you walk a line, turn, and walk back. A
person is tested on their ability to follow
directions of the officer (mental), and actually
perform the walk and turn (physical).
Unfortunately, the officer does not advise the
person what he is testing for, so there is no
way for a person unfamiliar with the test to
know what the officer will count off for.

3) One Leg Stand: This is test where person
stands on one leg for 30 seconds, while
counting.   Again, the officer is looking to see
if the individual can follow directions
(mental), and if they actually can perform the
test as told (physical). Once again, the
officer does not tell the subject what he will
be counting off for.