Why Sobriety Tests Are Outdated

A sobriety test is one of the most common ways law enforcement try to prove that a person is driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. They are done at the scene of the crime,and have been used for years. However,problems persist with sobriety tests and they are now severely outdated. These problems are routinely exposed by in court.

For starters,there should be no test for sobriety that is done subjectively. There is just too many issues with something like this. It is human nature to show bias towards a person for one reason or another. The same person can take a sobriety test and get two different verdicts depending on the officer grading.

The other problems with sobriety tests mostly have to do with just having to be in pretty good shape just to pass it sober. For example,standing on one leg is something that a lot of people can’t do under any circumstances. Maybe they are out of shape. Maybe they are getting up there in age. Maybe they just drove for a few hours and are not stretched out enough. Whatever the case is,this part of a sobriety test is hard to pass even if sober.

Not only is balance hard,but consider the conditions around a traffic stop as well. In a controlled environment,a lot more people can do a one legged stand than in the middle of the night with temperatures near freezing. There are just way too many real world variables for the test to positively show anything. Those who are not sober,usually show they are not sober in other ways. Those who are sober can still fail the test simply because they do not hit the gym enough. The test is outdated,and one can hope that a better solution comes sooner rather than later. Until then, will need to defend those falsely accused of drunk driving.