Field sobriety tests. The driver suspected of drunk driving is usually offered a series of so-called field sobriety tests by the arresting officer prior to being taken into custody. In some instances, drivers are subjected to field testing procedures after arrest. The Paulding County criminal defense attorney must be thoroughly familiar with these procedures and must be prepared to deal with them effectively.The horizontal gaze nystagmus test is one procedure commonly used in field tests for sobriety. Nystagmus is defined as oscillating movement of the eyeball which may be horizontal, vertical, or mixed.The officer measures HGN by looking for a involuntary jerking of the eyeball of the driver's eyes follow the officers pen light from a normal gaze to an extreme lateral position. The officer will conclude that the drivers under the influence if the annual of onset of the jerking occurs prior to 45° away from center.
