Delfin Floresca
The Citadel
Are Field Sobriety Tests and Breathalyzers Effective? According to a 2015 lecture by Dr. Bob McNamara of the Criminal Justice Program at The Citadel College, stricter DUI enforcement of laws do not reduce the incidences of drunk driving nor does it reduce the accidents of the loss of life. He also explains that much of the research shows that implementing stronger DUI enforcement, random checks and full efforts to arrest and prosecute DUI offenders do not have the impact to reduce DUI and loss of life (personal communication, March 3, 2011). With this information, certain questions regarding the effectiveness of field sobriety tests and breathalyzers are suggested. Do they work? Are they effective? One would think that these tools utilized by law enforcement would reduce DUI related fatalities and instances of DUI encounters. Instead, the research shows otherwise. …show more content…
According to the NHTSA website, these Standardized Field Sobriety Tests are used to help law enforcement determine the Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of a person suspected of DUI. (NHTSA) These batteries of tests allow the officer to determine if a person’s BAC is above the legal limit and allow the officer, based on suspicion, to make an arrest for DUI or to continue issuing other tests which include the breathalyzer. Keep in mind that the Field Sobriety Tests are wholly dependent on the police officer’s judgment. Examples of human error in judgment can be found