SPOKANE, WA · FIELD SOBRIETY TESTS
VOLUNTARY ROADSIDE TESTS
Field sobriety tests are roadside exercises — such as the walk-and-turn, one-leg stand and horizontal gaze nystagmus (eye) test — that officers use to look for signs of impairment. In Washington, these roadside tests are voluntary.
Nerves, fatigue, footwear, weather, road surface, injuries and medical conditions can all affect how a person performs. The tests must also be given and scored according to standardized procedures.
Officers sometimes describe performance in ways the video does not support. Comparing the report with body-cam and dash-cam footage is an important part of a defense.
Chris Bugbee compares the officer’s report with the video and the standardized testing rules to find where the observations fall short.
As a former Spokane County prosecutor with 30+ years of criminal law experience and nearly 200 jury cases, he handles your case personally.
WHAT TO KNOW
If the tests were not given or scored correctly, their results may carry little weight — and may not support the arrest.
Without reliable field sobriety evidence, the State may struggle to justify the arrest and the tests that followed.
Field sobriety tests are voluntary in Washington — but what happened at the roadside still matters to your case.
THE TESTS
WHAT AFFECTS RESULTS
LEARN MORE
Questions about your field sobriety tests? Call Bugbee Law Office, P.S. today for a free case evaluation.
FREE CASE EVALUATION
Speak directly with an experienced Spokane DUI attorney about your case and your options.
The information on this website is general information, not legal advice. Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Read the full disclaimer.
