October 29, 2015

Participant Manual SFST – Session 8 Concepts and Principles of the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFST) Session 8 - Concepts and Principles of the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFST) DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing Session 8 Concepts and Principles of the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFST)

Participant Manual SFST – Session 8
Concepts and Principles of the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFST)
Session 8 - Concepts and Principles of the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFST)
DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing
Session 8
Concepts and Principles
of the Standardized
Field Sobriety Tests
(SFST)
3 Hours 20 Minutes
Session 8 - Concepts and Principles of the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFST)
DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing
Discuss the development and validity of
the research and the standardized
elements, clues and interpretation of the
three Standardized Field Sobriety Tests
Discuss types of nystagmus and their
effects on the Horizontal Gaze
Nystagmus test
Learning Objectives
8-2
Upon successfully completing this session the participant will be able to:
• Discuss the development and validity of the research and the standardized elements,
clues and interpretation of the three Standardized Field Sobriety Tests.
• Discuss the different types of nystagmus and their effects on the Horizontal Gaze
Nystagmus test.
Notes:_______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Notes:_______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
HS 178 R5/13 2 of 62
Session 8 - Concepts and Principles of the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFST)
DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing
Proper administration of the three
Standardized Field Sobriety Tests
Recognize clues of the three SFST Tests
Describe and record results of the three
SFSTs on a standard note taking guide
Discuss limiting factors of the three SFSTs
Learning Objectives (Cont.)
8-3
• Discuss and properly administer the three Standardized Field Sobriety Tests.
• Discuss and properly recognize the clues of the three Standardized Field Sobriety
Tests.
• Describe in a clear and convincing manner and properly record the results of the
three Standardized Field Sobriety Tests on a standard note taking guide.
• Discuss the limiting factors of the three Standardized Field Sobriety Tests.
CONTENT SEGMENTS LEARNING ACTIVITIES
A. Overview: Development and Validation Instructor Led Demonstration
B. SFST Field Validation Studies Participant Practice Session and
C. Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus Demonstration
D. Vertical Gaze Nystagmus
E. Walk and Turn
F. One Leg Stand
G. Taking Field Notes on the Standardized
Field Sobriety Tests
Notes:_______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
HS 178 R5/13 3 of 62
Session 8 - Concepts and Principles of the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFST)
DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing
NHTSA research began in 1975 in California
with three final reports being published:
California: 1977 (lab study only)
California: 1981 (lab/field study)
Maryland, Washington, DC, Virginia, North
Carolina: 1983 (field study only)
Overview:
Development and Validation
8-4
A. Overview: Development and Validation
For many years law enforcement officers have utilized field sobriety tests to determine a
driver’s impairment due to alcohol influence. The performance of the driver on those
field sobriety tests was used by the officer to develop probable cause for arrest and as
evidence in court. A wide variety of field sobriety tests existed and there was a need to
develop a battery of standardized valid tests.
Session 8 - Concepts and Principles of the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFST)
DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing
Evaluate currently used physical
coordination tests to determine their
relationship to intoxication and driving
impairment
Develop more sensitive tests that would
provide more reliable evidence of
impairment
Standardize the tests and observations
Original Research Objectives
8-5
The original research objectives were to:
• Evaluate currently used physical coordination tests to determine their relationship to
intoxication and driving impairment
• Develop more sensitive tests that would provide more reliable evidence of impairment
• Standardize the tests and observations.
Beginning in late 1975, extensive scientific research studies were sponsored by NHTSA
through a contract with the Southern California Research Institute (SCRI) to determine
which roadside field sobriety tests were most accurate. SCRI published the following
three reports:
• California: 1977 (Lab)
• California: 1981 (Lab and Field)
• Maryland, District of Columbia, Virginia, North Carolina: 1983 (Field)
Notes:_______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Notes:_______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
HS 178 R5/13 4 of 62
Session 8 - Concepts and Principles of the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFST)
DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing
One Leg Stand
Finger to Nose
Finger Count
Walk and Turn
Tracing (a paper and pencil exercise)
Nystagmus (called alcohol gaze
nystagmus in final report)
Volunteers Were Subjected
to Six Tests
8-6
SCRI traveled to law enforcement agencies throughout the United States to select the
most commonly used field sobriety tests. Six tests were used in the initial stages of this
study.
One Leg Stand
Finger to Nose
Finger Count
Walk and Turn
Tracing (a paper and pencil exercise)
Nystagmus (called alcohol gaze nystagmus in final report).
Notes:_______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
HS 178 R5/13 5 of 62
Session 8 - Concepts and Principles of the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFST)
DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing
One Leg Stand
Finger to Nose
Finger Count
Walk and Turn
Tracing (a paper and pencil exercise)
Nystagmus (called alcohol gaze
nystagmus in final report)
Volunteers Were
Subjected to Six Tests (Cont.)
8-7
Laboratory research indicated that three of these tests, when administered in a
standardized manner, were a highly accurate and reliable battery of tests for
distinguishing BACs at or above 0.10; Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN), Walk and
Turn (WAT), and One Leg Stand (OLS).
The research showed that these three tests were the most accurate and the remaining
tests were merely reassessing the same skills.
While many field sobriety tests are valid tests, the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests
have been validated through numerous research studies.
Session 8 - Concepts and Principles of the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFST)
DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing
HGN by itself was 77% accurate
Walk and Turn was 68% accurate
One Leg Stand was 65% accurate
Laboratory Test
Data Results
8-8
NHTSA analyzed the laboratory test data and found:
• HGN, by itself, was 77% accurate
• WAT, by itself, was 68% accurate
• OLS, by itself, was 65% accurate
Notes:_______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Notes:_______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
HS 178 R5/13 6 of 62
Session 8 - Concepts and Principles of the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFST)
DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing
Develop standardized, practical and
effective procedures for police officers to
use in reaching arrest/no arrest decisions
Test the feasibility of the procedures in
enforcement conditions
Determine if tests discriminate in the field,
as well as in the laboratory
Third Phase: Field Validation and
Standardization Objectives
8-9
B. SFST Field Validation Studies
The final phase of this study was conducted as a field validation.
• Standardized, practical and effective procedures were developed
• Determine the feasibility of the procedures for these tests in actual enforcement
conditions
• The tests were determined to discriminate in the field, as well as in the laboratory.
Session 8 - Concepts and Principles of the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFST)
DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing
Standardized Administrative Procedures
Standardized Clues
Standardized Criteria
Standardized Elements
8-10
The three standardized tests were found to be highly reliable in identifying subjects
whose BACs were at or above 0.10. The results of the study unmistakably validated the
SFSTs.
The “Standardized” elements included:
• Standardized Administrative Procedures
• Standardized Clues
• Standardized Criteria
Notes:_______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Notes:_______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
HS 178 R5/13 7 of 62
Session 8 - Concepts and Principles of the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFST)
DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing
First significant assessment of the
workability of the standardized tests
under actual enforcement conditions
First time completely objective clues and
scoring criteria had been defined for the
tests
Results of the study validated the SFSTs
Importance of Large Scale
Field Validation Study
8-11
The large scale field validation study was the first significant assessment of the
workability of the standardized tests under actual enforcement conditions. It was also
the first time completely objective clues and scoring criteria had been defined for these
tests. The results of this study validated the SFSTs.
Session 8 - Concepts and Principles of the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFST)
DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing
SFST
Field Validation Studies
Colorado
1995
Florida
1997
San Diego, California
1998
8-12
Three SFST validation studies were undertaken between 1995 and 1998:
• Colorado - 1995
• Florida - 1997
• San Diego – 1998
In order to understand the results of the research studies discussed in this course, it is
important to define what is meant by a correct arrest decision. A correct arrest decision
is made when an officer, after completing the third phase of the detection process,
decides to arrest a subject and that subject tested above the illegal per se limit for BAC
or the officer decides to release a subject who is below the illegal per se limit for BAC.
Notes:_______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Notes:_______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________

HS 178 R5/13 8 of 62Source: DWI Detection and
Standardized Field
Sobriety Testing
March 2013 Edition

No comments: