Why do USA police waste time having drivers perform sobriety tests?

Question

When they could simply use a breathalyzer unit which saves time and allows more drivers to be checked. Plus, it avoids the hassles of standing out in the rain for ages.

Answer 1

First of all, you do not have to be drunk to be driving under the influence. Some people can down a 6 pack, and show no signs of intoxication, while others can't handle one drink. The breathalyzer measures the alcohol in your blood system to show whether or not you are over the legal limit. You could be under the limit, but still be intoxicated. Performance tests are given to see if you can follow instructions, and to perform simple agility tests. It also tests you speech. You may also be required to take a blood test if your actions show intoxication, but there is no level of alcohol. There is usually several charges involved, not just one. The original violation(s) which caused you to be stopped, Driving Under the Influence, Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol Over the Legal Limit, DUI of Alcohol/Drugs. The list goes on. Actually this is for your benefit. Now, knowing all this, and I'm sure you wouldn't want to be arrested to begin with, but if you were, would you want to save time, and remove the hassles, and just be charged with everything?.

Answer 2

interior the united states, you've the right to refuse to finish field sobriety checks, which comprise the breathalyzer. field Sobriety attempt are an investigative device used by regulation enforcement to assist in determining a aspect of impairment. actual, Breathalyzers and blood attracts are the most precise yet those, like field sobriety checks, would nicely be refused. Refusal of field sobriety checks also comes with stiffer consequences. some states, like Illinois, have higher the license suspensions to an entire 365 days for refusals.

Answer 3

Legally, police need probable cause to perform a breathalyzer test, hence the field sobriety test.

Either that or they just think it's funny to make people hop around on one leg. I'll ask one on Monday.

Answer 4

A police officer can only administer a breathalizer if they have probably cause, it's a written law. Sobriety tests help to pinpoint the cause and helps to rule out things like illness, function of motor skills, bad eyes, etc., and also builds a DUI case against someone.

Answer 5

The portable units have not been fully accepted by US courts, Thier reliablity has been challenged by lawyers ( got to love them) They only breathalyzer fully accepted thoughout the US are the large ones at the station house operated by a trained tech.

And of course the cost of the units and keeping them calibrated in those areas where they are accepted has been problems

Answer 6

Having sit in on several DUI suppression hearings and trials I can tell you why they ask you to perform the FST.

They use your failure of the tests in court. They love to go on and on about how you stumbled around, slurred your speech and so forth.

Any attorney worth their money will tell you to never submit to the field sobriety tests. There is no penalty for refusing those tests.

Answer 7

because smart defense lawyers have shot holes in cases -
it's better to have 2-3 reasons to cite the driver for being
under the influence

many of the things that hamper us in our country is that
we have a plethora of lawyers - that's why Japan has beat
our socks off technology wise

in America - we train 1 engineer for every 100 lawyers
in Japan - they train 1 lawyer for every 100 engineers

A few years ago, America had 6 % of the world's population
- and 90% of the world's civil cases in trial -

go figger

Answer 8

Because here in australia we are like bossy boots & too much like big brother & just lay down the law & thats it!!

Answer 9

Cos its funny watching people poke themselves in the eye and fall over.

Answer 10

Its because the USA has a bill of rights. They can't brethalyze someone without just cause.