When Nebraska drivers get pulled over for a DUI, they may think a member of law enforcement will ask them to take a breathalyzer test. However, there are several different kinds of field sobriety tests and a law enforcement officer might ask someone to perform one of these tests as well.
There are many different types of field sobriety test a driver might have to perform. According to Very Well Mind, one of these tests is the walk and turn test. People typically have to walk in a straight line by putting one foot directly in front of the other. Law enforcement officers usually want to see if drivers can keep their balance as they turn and if they need their arms to balance. Another kind of test is the horizontal gaze nystagmus test. A member of law enforcement may ask a driver to focus on a pen as he or she moves it around. An intoxicated person may not be able to follow the pen using only his or her eyes.
The last kind of test a law enforcement officer might ask someone to perform is the one-leg stand test. A driver generally has to stand on one foot while raising the other foot in the air and counting backward. Law enforcement officers typically watch drivers to see if they put their foot down or sway back and forth.
Law enforcement officers might also ask drivers to perform different tasks. FindLaw says that sometimes a member of law enforcement might ask a driver to count backward or say the alphabet. Law enforcement officers may also ask a driver to touch his or her nose with a finger. All of these tests may help members of law enforcement to determine if a driver is drunk by checking his or her balance and ability to pay attention.
