- the one-leg stand,
- walk and turn, and
- horizontal gaze nystagmus test.
What is the one legged stand sobriety test?
The one-leg stand is a standardized field sobriety test that police officers use to determine if you are driving nder the influence of drugs or alcohol. It is a divided attention test, meaning you divide you attention between the mental task of following instructions and doing a physical task
To complete the one-leg stand test, you must stand with one foot approximately six inches off the ground with your toe pointed. While maintaining perfect balance, you have to count by thousands (one thousand-one, one thousand-two, etc.) for thirty seconds. Meanwhile, your arms must remain at your side. Finally, you must look down at your foot.
The officer will observe you for two or more indicators of the following:
- Putting your foot down before the test is completed;
- Swaying while trying to maintain your balance;
- Hopping while trying to maintain your balance; and
- Using your arms to help maintain your balance.
What is the walk and turn test?’
- Can you keep your balance;
- Do you:
- Begin walking before the officer tells you to;
- Stop while walking in order to regain your balance;
- Touch your feet heel-to-toe;
- Use your arms to maintain your balance;
- Lose your balance while turning; and
- Take an incorrect number of steps.
What is the horizontal gaze nystagmus (HGN) test?
The HGN test has three characteristics:
- The officer checks each eye for any jerking motion as your eyes follow the object. The thinking is that If you aren’t paired, both eyes should smoothly track from side to side. If you are impaired, the officer will observe nystagmus or jerking of the eye;
- The officer checks each eye for distinct nystagmus at maximum deviation. This means, officer first directs the left eye outward toward the left ear as far as possible and maintains this position for four seconds while checking for nystagmus or jerking of the eye. This procedure is then repeated for the right eye.
- The officer checks each eye for jerking of the eyes prior to forty-five degrees between your nose and shoulder.
The HGN test is not admissible as evidence in New Jersey because it hasn’t been determined by a court to be scientifically reliable.
