During a traffic stop a police officer may tell you that he has to have you perform the Field Sobriety Tests, (walk and turn, one leg stand, etc) because it is his department’s police and that it is routine and you can be on your way in a few minutes. During the tests, the officer may tell you that you passed the test and tells you to do another test. These are all lies.
First, it is up to the police officer to determine if he is going to ask you to perform the tests. He does not have to administer them because of a department policy.
Second, he knows that you are likely going to be arrested and not going to be allowed to continue to drive.
Third, he will tell you that you passed a test, even though you failed the test, to get you to continue to do (and fail) more tests.
At court, the officer will freely admit that he did not tell you the truth because he wanted you to perform the tests.
Why are the field sobriety or DUI tests so important? Because without the tests and without a breath sample, it is very difficult, (not impossible) for the police and the state’s attorney to prove its case.
