By Kenneth Vercammen, Esq. Former Prosecutor and Editor- NJ Municipal Court
Law Review
Probable Cause for Stop
1. No accident?
2. No criminal violation?
3. Traffic light per ticket?
4. According to Report-Not close to hitting other car
5. According to Report not endangering any person/property?
6. No details in report of driving willful on went to disregard of rights
of others?
7. No ticket for lane violation?
8. No ticket for careless?
9. No reason to believe weapons?
10. No tip by reliable informant?
11. Pulled over my client without a warrant?
12. No Radar?
13. No Pace?
14. Could not have issued ticket for speeding?Cross of Police Regarding Field Sobriety
15. Do you have documents describing how, under what conditions and by whom
each test was given? Are you aware the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration has advice and instructions on giving the Field Sobriety
Test.
15A. Walk and Turn
Your report does not say that you:
? Always begin by having the subject assume the heel-toe stance
? Verify that the subject understands that the stance is to be maintained
while the instructions are given.
? If the subject breaks away from the stance as the instructions are given,
cease giving instructions until the stance is resumed
? Tell the subject that he or she will be required to take 9 heel-to-toe
steps down the line, to turn, and to take 9 heel-to-toe steps up the line.
? Demonstrate several heel-to-toe steps
? Demonstrate the turn
? Tell the subject to keep the arms at the sides, to watch the feet, to
count the steps aloud, and not to stop walking until the test is
completed.
? Ask the subject whether he or she understands; it not, re-explain whatever
the subject doesn¹t understand
? Tell the subject to begin
? If the subject staggers or stops, allow him or her to resume from the
point of interruption; do not require the subject to start over from the
beginning
? Cannot keep balance while listening to instructions (i.e., breaks away
from the
heel-to-toe stance)
? Starts before instructions are finished
? Keeps balance but does not remember instructions
? Stops while walking to steady self
? Does not touch heel-to-toe while walking (i.e., misses by at least
one-half inch)
? Loses balance while walking (i.e., steps off line)
? Uses arms for balance (i.e., raises arms by six inches or more)
? Loses balance while turning
? Incorrect number of steps
Are you aware the NHTSA states that officers should note in their
reports how many times each of the eight clues appears. However, isn't it
true the NHTSA for purposes of applying the standardized criterion, a clue
should be ³counted² only once, even if it appears more than once.
15B. One Leg Stand
Your report does not say you would:
? Tell the subject to stand with heels together, and arms at sides
? Tell the subject not to start the test until you say to do so
? Ask the subject whether he or she understands
? Tell the subject he or she will have to stand on one foot, with the
other foot about six inches off the ground
? Demonstrate the stance
? Tell the subject to count from 1 to 30, by thousands
? Demonstrate the count, for several seconds
? Ask the subject whether he or she understands; if not, re-explain
whatever is not understood
? Tell the subject to begin
? If the subject stops or puts the foot down, allow him or her to
resume at the point of interruption; do not require the count to begin again
at ³one thousand and one²
? Swaying while balancing
? Uses arms to balance (i.e., raises arms from side six inches or
more)
? Slightly uneasy
? Quite unsteady
? Starts before instructions are finished
? Puts foot down
? Hops
Are you aware the NHTSA states that there are the only four validated
clues of One Leg Stand.
15C. Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus Test
Your report does not say:
? Hold the stimulus 12-15 inches in front of the subject¹s face
? Keep the tip of the stimulus slightly above the subject¹s face
? Always move the stimulus smoothly
? Always check for all three clues in both eyes
? Lack of smooth pursuit
? Distinct jerking at maximum deviation
? Onset of jerking within 45 degrees
Are you aware that no other ³clues² are recognized by NHTSA as valid
indicators of horizontal gaze nystagmus. In particular, NHTSA does not
support that allegation that onset angle can reliably be used to estimate
BAC, and considers any such estimation to be misuse of the horizontal gaze
nystagmus test.
16. Documents describing test results?
17. Documents describing "test" results?
18. What are procedures to permit defendant to obtain independent tests of
blood, breath or? According to your Alcohol influence rep?
19. Section 25 of Alcohol Influence report, Able to walk, talk?
not falling
-not on hands and knees
-not staggering
20. According to Section 26, Ability to stand?
-no swaying
-no leaning for balance
-feet not wide apart
21. According to Section 27, Speech-not slurred?
-not incoherent
-not slobbering
-could understand what she was saying
22. Demeanor-cooperative, polite, calm?
23. Eyes watery now?
24. When is allergy season?
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