MA Police Training Manual - OUI Stop Field Sobriety Tests
In the Instructions
Stage, the subject must stand with feet together, keep arms at sides, and
listen to instructions. This divides the subject’s attention between a
balancing task (maintaining a stance) and an information processing task
(listening to and remembering instructions.)
In the Balance and
Counting Stage, the subject must raise
one leg, either leg, approximately six inches off the ground, toes pointed out,
keeping both legs straight. While looking at the elevated foot, count out loud
in the following manner: “one thousand and one,” “one thousand and two,”
“one thousand and three” until told to stop. This divides the subject’s
attention between balancing (standing on one foot) and small muscle control
(counting out loud).
The timing
for a thirty-second period by the officer is
an important part of
the One-Leg Stand test. The
original research has shown that many impaired subjects are able to stand on one
leg for up to 25 seconds, but that few can do so for 30 seconds.
One-Leg Stand is
also administered and interpreted in a standardized manner. Officers carefully
observe the suspect’s performance and look for four specific clues:
• sways while
balancing;
• uses arms to
balance;
• hops;
• puts foot
down.
Inability to
complete the One-Leg Stand test occurs when the suspect:
• puts the foot
down three or more times, during the 30-second period;
• cannot do the
test.
The original research shows that, when the suspect produces two
or more clues or is unable to complete
the test, it is likely that the BAC is above 0.10. This criterion has been shown
to be accurate 65 percent of the time.
NYSTAGMUS
“Nystagmus”
means an involuntary jerking of the eyes.
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