Field sobriety tests can be a big part of what is decided in the courtroom. But if those tests were not conducted properly, or if your rights were violated along the way, that evidence may not hold up.
At The Bell Law Firm, PLLC, we focus on those details. Because in many DUI cases, the outcome comes down to what gets in and what gets thrown out.
Field sobriety tests are roadside exercises officers use to build evidence of impairment. The most common are:
These are subjective tests. The officer is watching how you move, how you follow instructions, and how you appear under pressure.
In Tennessee, DUI is defined under Tennessee Code Annotated § 55-10-401, which allows a person to be charged based on impairment, not just a specific blood alcohol number.
That means these tests are often used to justify an arrest before any breath or blood test is ever given.
Request That You Perform the Tests: Officers can ask you to perform field sobriety tests during a lawful traffic stop as part of a DUI investigation.
Observe and Document Your Performance: They are trained to look for specific indicators, often called “clues,” such as balance issues, missed steps, or eye movement. They will also note how you speak, stand, and respond to instructions.
Use the Results to Establish Probable Cause: Field sobriety tests are typically used to justify an arrest. If the officer believes there is enough evidence of impairment, they can place you under arrest and request a chemical test.
They Cannot Force You to Take Field Sobriety Tests: Field sobriety tests are voluntary in Tennessee. You are not legally required to perform them, and refusing them is not a separate criminal charge.
They Cannot Ignore Testing Standards: These tests are supposed to follow specific standardized procedures, meaning that the procedures are only reliable if administered in the manner as originally tested. In reality, they are often done on the side of the road under poor conditions. Uneven pavement, lighting issues, traffic, medical conditions, and even normal anxiety can affect performance. These factors matter, and they can be used to challenge the results.
They Cannot Violate Your Rights: The stop must be lawful. The detention must be reasonable. The arrest must be supported by probable cause. Just because an officer believes probable cause exists, that does not mean a Judge will agree. If those requirements are not met, the evidence collected, including field sobriety tests, may be challenged or suppressed.
It is important to understand the difference between these two.
Field sobriety tests are voluntary. Chemical tests are governed by Tennessee’s implied consent law under Tennessee Code Annotated § 55-10-406.
If you refuse a breath or blood test after arrest, your license can be revoked. That is a separate issue from the DUI charge itself and carries its own consequences.
Not every defense attorney truly understands how DUI investigations are supposed to be conducted.
Attorney Justin Bell has completed ARIDE, Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement training. This is the same type of training used to teach officers how to conduct DUI stops and evaluations. That matters, because when you know the standards, you can see where the process broke down.
These are not small details. These are the issues that can determine whether evidence is allowed in court or thrown out.
At The Bell Law Firm, PLLC, we take these cases seriously from the start. We look at what happened, how it happened, and whether it was done the right way.
If you have been charged with DUI in Knoxville or anywhere in East Tennessee, call now for a free case review and speak with Attorney Justin Bell.