What is the purpose of field sobriety tests and when are they used?

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Field sobriety tests are used to assess whether a driver shows signs of impairment from alcohol or drugs by evaluating balance, coordination, and attention. They are not meant to determine a person’s age or to measure blood alcohol content directly. These tests are given when an officer has probable cause to arrest someone for suspected DUI, typically after observing driving behavior or other impairment indicators during a traffic stop. The results help support a reasonable basis for an arrest and can be used as evidence of impairment in court, in conjunction with other observations. Direct BAC measurement must come from a chemical test (breath, blood, or urine) conducted after an arrest, not from the field tests themselves. Field sobriety tests are not performed at every stop, and various factors beyond intoxication—such as physical condition, weather, or footwear—can affect performance, so results are considered with the full context of the stop.