Standardized Field Sobriety Exercises

Select the location

• Maintain officer, subject, and roadway safety.
• Use the best available reasonably dry, hard, level, well-lit, and non-slippery surface.
• Note traffic, weather, lighting, surface conditions, footwear, and unavoidable deviations.

Ask before beginning

• Do you have physical problems, injuries, disabilities, or medical conditions that may affect these exercises?
• Do you have problems with your legs, knees, ankles, feet, hips, back, neck, eyes, or inner ear/balance?
• Have you recently had surgery or an injury affecting your ability to walk, stand, balance, follow a moving object, or perform these exercises?
• Are you taking medications that may affect balance, coordination, vision, or your ability to understand and follow instructions?
• Is there anything about your footwear that would make these exercises difficult?

Offer an opportunity to remove unusual footwear when safe and appropriate.

Document

• The subject's answers or denial of limitations.
• Visible injuries, mobility aids, balance problems, footwear, communication difficulties, and other observed limitations.
• Whether an exercise was modified, stopped, omitted, or performed under less-than-optimal conditions.

A medical condition or medication does not, by itself, prove impairment.

Position and preliminary checks

1. Have the subject remove glasses, if applicable.
2. Hold the stimulus approximately 12–15 inches from the nose and slightly above eye level.
3. Tell the subject to keep the head still and follow the stimulus with the eyes only.
4. Check equal pupil size, resting nystagmus, and equal tracking.

Six standardized clues

Check each eye separately for:

• Lack of smooth pursuit
• Distinct and sustained nystagmus at maximum deviation
• Onset of nystagmus prior to 45 degrees

There are three possible clues in each eye. Check vertical gaze nystagmus as trained and document it separately.

Administration reminders

• Check the left eye first, then the right, and repeat each pass as trained.
• Hold at maximum deviation for at least four seconds.
• Move the stimulus slowly when checking for onset before 45 degrees.
• Record each clue separately for each eye.

Instruction stage

1. Give instructions and demonstrations from a safe position.
2. Place the left foot on the line.
3. Place the right foot directly in front of the left, heel-to-toe.
4. Keep both arms at the sides and hold that position.
5. Do not begin until instructed; confirm the subject understands.

Walking stage

1. When told to begin, step with the left foot heel-to-toe in front of the right and count that walking step as "one."
2. Take nine heel-to-toe steps, watch the feet, and count each step aloud.
3. Leave the lead foot on the line and complete the demonstrated series-of-small-steps turn with the other foot.
4. Return with nine heel-to-toe steps while counting aloud.
5. Keep arms at the sides and do not stop after beginning.

Eight standardized clues

• Cannot keep balance while listening
• Starts too soon
• Stops while walking
• Does not touch heel-to-toe
• Steps off the line
• Uses arms to balance
• Makes an improper turn
• Takes an incorrect number of steps

Document each clue and when it occurred.

Instruction stage

1. Give instructions and demonstrate from a safe position.
2. Stand straight with feet together and arms at the sides.
3. Do not begin until instructed; confirm the subject understands.

Balance and counting stage

1. Raise either foot approximately six inches off the ground.
2. Keep the raised foot parallel to the ground and both legs straight.
3. Look at the elevated foot.
4. Count aloud: "one thousand one, one thousand two, one thousand three," until told to stop.
5. Time the exercise for 30 seconds.

Four standardized clues

• Sways while balancing
• Uses arms to balance
• Hops
• Puts the foot down

Document each clue, how often it occurred, and whether the subject restarted or could not complete the exercise.

SFSTs are investigative tools and should not be treated as an isolated pass/fail decision. Consider and document:

• Vehicle-in-motion observations
• Initial contact and divided attention
• Statements and admissions
• Odor and physical indicators
• Exit-sequence observations
• Medical and physical limitations
• Environmental conditions
• Each standardized clue observed
• Any inability, refusal, modification, or deviation
• Body-worn camera and other lawful evidence

Use current FDLE/NHTSA training, current law, and agency policy. This field resource is a quick-reference aid and does not replace certified training or legal guidance.