🚔 Field Sobriety Exercises in Fort Lauderdale & South Florida DUI Cases
If you’ve been stopped for DUI in Fort Lauderdale, Miami, or anywhere in South Florida, an officer may ask you to perform Field Sobriety Exercises (FSEs).
These roadside tests, developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), are supposed to measure impairment—but they’re highly flawed, often misapplied, and not legally required in Florida.
❗ Know Your Rights: FSEs Are NOT Mandatory in Florida
🚫 You are not legally required to perform Field Sobriety Exercises.
You can refuse without facing an automatic license suspension (unlike chemical tests).
But here’s the catch: If you take them, police will use the results against you. And many drivers—even sober ones—fail these tests due to:
- Stress
- Medical conditions
- Uneven roads or poor lighting
- Police errors
❗ Know Your Rights: FSEs Are NOT Mandatory in Florida
🚫 You are not legally required to perform Field Sobriety Exercises.
You can refuse without facing an automatic license suspension (unlike chemical tests).
But here’s the catch: If you take them, police will use the results against you. And many drivers—even sober ones—fail these tests due to:
- Stress
- Medical conditions
- Uneven roads or poor lighting
- Police errors
Recently Arrested for DUI in Fort Lauderdale or Anywhere in South Florida?
🔎 What Are the 5 Standardized FSEs in Florida?
Florida law enforcement primarily uses three NHTSA-approved exercises:
👀 Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) – The Eye Test
The officer moves a pen or finger side-to-side, watching your eyes for involuntary jerking (nystagmus).
🚨 Problems with HGN:
- ❌ Medical issues (e.g., neurological problems) cause false positives
- ❌ Bright lights, wind, and moving traffic affect eye movements
- ❌ Doesn’t directly measure alcohol—only eye response
🚶 Walk-and-Turn – The Coordination Test
You walk heel-to-toe along a straight line, turn, and return—all while counting out loud.
🚨 Common issues:
- ❌ Uneven or sloped roads, poor lighting
- ❌ Nervousness or medical conditions
- ❌ Officers often misinterpret normal mistakes as signs of impairment
🦵 One-Leg Stand – The Balance Test
You’re asked to stand on one foot for 30 seconds while counting out loud.
🚨 Why this is flawed:
- ❌ Many people naturally struggle with balance
- ❌ Prior injuries, age, or vertigo impact results
- ❌ Sloped pavement and windy weather can sabotage the test
👉 Finger-to-Nose Test – The Motor Coordination Test
What It Is: With your head tilted back and eyes closed, you’re instructed to touch the tip of your nose with your finger on command—alternating hands.
🚨 Why It’s Problematic:
- ❌ Not standardized by NHTSA, yet still used in court
- ❌ Inner-ear issues or tremors can impact accuracy
- ❌ Subjective scoring based on officer’s interpretation
⏱️ Romberg Balance Test – The Sensory Test
What It Is: You’re asked to tilt your head back, close your eyes, and estimate the passage of 30 seconds while standing still.
🚨 Why It’s Questionable:
- ❌ Officer notes swaying, muscle tension, or timing delays
- ❌ Stress and dizziness are common—even in sober individuals
- ❌ Not a scientifically reliable measure of alcohol impairment
⚖️ Can You Challenge Field Sobriety Exercises in Court?
✅ Yes. These tests are subjective, unreliable, and absolutely challengeable.
Common DUI Defenses Against FSE Results:
- 🚫 Officer failed to follow NHTSA protocols
- 🚫 Medical conditions mimicked impairment
- 🚫 Bad lighting, traffic, or uneven ground affected performance
- 🚫 Test was improperly explained or demonstrated
- 🚫 Officer’s interpretation was biased or unsupported
With the right attorney, your FSE results can be suppressed or discredited, making it much harder for the State to prove DUI beyond a reasonable doubt.
👨⚖️ Arrested for DUI in Fort Lauderdale? Act Fast.
A DUI arrest does NOT mean you’re guilty. But how you respond—and who you hire—can make or break your case.
🔍 Why You Need a DUI Defense Lawyer Now:
- ✅ We challenge flawed field sobriety results
- ✅ We know how to expose officer errors
- ✅ We push back against unfair charges
- ✅ We fight for dismissals, reductions, and license protection
📞 Call Fort Lauderdale DUI Attorney Michael White today at (954) 613-8142
🛡️ Free consultation | 24/7 availability | Proven results
💬 Frequently Asked Questions: Field Sobriety Exercises in Florida
Q1: Are field sobriety tests mandatory in Florida?
A: No. In Florida, Field Sobriety Exercises (FSEs) are completely voluntary. You can legally refuse to take them without facing an automatic license suspension.
Q2: Can I still be arrested for DUI if I refuse the FSEs?
A: Yes. Refusing the tests doesn’t prevent an arrest. However, it limits the evidence police can use against you in court—and may help your defense.
Q3: Can medical conditions affect my performance on FSEs?
A: Absolutely. Conditions like vertigo, anxiety, past injuries, or neurological issues can all mimic impairment and lead to false positives during these tests.
Q4: Are police required to follow specific procedures when giving FSEs?
A: Yes. Officers must follow NHTSA guidelines when administering standardized tests like HGN, Walk-and-Turn, and One-Leg Stand. Failure to follow these rules may render the test results inadmissible in court.
Q5: Can I challenge field sobriety test results in my DUI case?
A: Yes. A skilled DUI defense attorney can challenge the reliability of FSEs, highlight improper administration, and argue for the exclusion of these results at trial.
