From Paul J. Tafelski, Michigan Defense Law - What Are Field Sobriety Tests in Michigan? explains how field sobriety tests are used during OWI investigations and what those results may mean for drivers in Michigan. The episode explores how law enforcement officers use roadside evaluations to assess balance, coordination, and cognitive function during a traffic stop, and why these tests can become a major part of operating while intoxicated and operating while visibly impaired cases. Listeners will also hear how standardized field sobriety tests developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration fit into Michigan law under MCL 257.62a.
The discussion breaks down the three standardized field sobriety tests used in Michigan: the horizontal gaze nystagmus test, the walk-and-turn test, and the one-leg stand test. It also covers how officers document clues, how those clues may be used to establish probable cause, and why the prosecution must show that testing was performed in substantial compliance with NHTSA standards. The episode highlights the legal importance of officer qualifications under MCL 257.625s, along with how courts may evaluate testimony involving SFSTs and HGN evidence under People v. Berger.
This podcast also examines the many reasons field sobriety test results may be challenged, including improper instructions, uneven pavement, poor lighting, officer deviation from NHTSA protocol, and medical conditions that can affect performance. Listeners will learn how arthritis, inner ear disorders, neurological conditions, prosthetics, eye conditions, medications, footwear, age, and physical limitations can all influence test results in ways that have nothing to do with alcohol or drug impairment. The episode also explains the difference between refusing a standardized field sobriety test, refusing a preliminary breath test, and refusing a chemical test under Michigan implied consent law.
Featuring insight tied to the work of Paul J. Tafelski and Michigan Defense Law, this episode focuses on what drivers in Oakland County, Bloomfield Hills, and throughout Michigan should understand after an OWI arrest. It outlines practical next steps after a failed field sobriety test, including staying calm, documenting the stop, recalling testing conditions, and speaking with an attorney as soon as possible. For anyone facing drunk driving charges, this conversation offers a clear look at how field sobriety tests are used, how they can be contested, and why careful legal review can make a meaningful difference.
Paul J. Tafelski, Michigan Defense Law
2525 S Telegraph Rd suite 100, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302, United States
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