Hi, I'm Zepsinger. I just had my first Field Sobriety Test.

[ReynardMuldrake]

When I was young and stupid I blew through a stop sign on the way home from a bar when there was no one around, got caught. I passed a FST even though I'm pretty sure I was close to the limit. Got a ticket for the stop sign though. Scared the shit out of me.

[CoMoChief]

Originally Posted by ZepSinger

So I'm pulling into Lansing KS last Saturday night at about 6pm... my band had a gig at a local bar just east of Leavenworth. I look in the rearview mirror and see the cop cherries- crap.

So, I pull over. Cop asks me like 3 times where I'm from and where I'm going- it seemed pretty obvious he was trying to catch me in a non-truth. Tells me he clocked me at 60 in a 50. OK, not the end of the world- I've had more than a few of those in my time.

Suddenly, he says 'sir, have you had any alcohol tonight? I smell alcohol on your breath.' I say no, then remember that I had had one 12oz. beer with pizza at 2:30. So I tell him as much. Then- 'sir, you'll need to step out of your car'. And then I get the battery of tests- follow the little blue light with my eyes, heel-to-toe 9 steps out and back, lift one foot with arms at the side while counting (by the way- those tests are fairly hard to do even when stone cold sober IMO). Backup arrives. Here comes the breathalyzer. He informs me that I can refuse to take the test, but doing so carries a charge in itself. I know I have nothing to worry about, so I say sure. He then says to wait in my car for the results.

I text the other guitarist to tell him I might be late. Or I might not be able to be there at all. The cop comes back and says 'your BAC is less than .01. KS legal limit is .08. You are obviously well under the limit. But here's your speeding ticket. Have a good evening.'

57 years old and my first field sobriety test. Even though I knew I was going to be OK, it still freaked me out a bit(and sorta ruined my night). I dunno, I've heard from many people that you should never submit to these tests- being a FST virgin, I just didn't know what to do for sure. I knew I wasn't going to test drunk, so I felt pretty safe in taking the test. Maybe that was stupid, I don't know. I'm assuming that some of you CP'ers have experienced this honor as well? What have you done in this situation?

Z

First of all I'd never tell a cop I was drinking.....that will 100% of the time alert them to do more testing....just tell them up front to do the breathlyzer up front before they get into the testing bullshit that are designed to make you fail because they will give you "loaded directions" and they do that shit on purpose. If they know you're willing to do the breathlyzer up front without waisting their time....they're more likely to let you go.

[DaveNull]

Fight the ticket and make the asshole show up in court to testify against you.

And if I get pulled over, I'm not doing anything until my lawyer is on-site where I've been pulled over or at the station. Not answering questions, not doing any field sobriety dance and not using some untested uncalibrated breathalyzer.

[ClevelandBronco]

(All together): Hi, ZepSinger.

This next part isn't necessarily directed to you since you were nowhere near the limit, but...

I don't know about the law where you are, but Coloradans cannot be compelled to perform field sobriety tests. If you think you might be near the limit, it's just nonsensical to do stupid, drunk human tricks for the policeman's camera. The cop is not there to make sure you're sober enough to drive. He's there to make sure that he gathers enough evidence to convict you at trial. Politely decline roadside tests. Always.

[sedated]

Never, ever, EVER tell a cop you've had anything to drink if they pull you over. Instant probable cause. They will immediately pull you out of the car and give you the FST.

[Skyy God]

Originally Posted by sedated

Never, ever, EVER tell a cop you've had anything to drink if they pull you over. Instant probable cause. They will immediately pull you out of the car and give you the FST.

Yeah, that's not true. The PC is the alcohol (legit or otherwise) they smell on your breath. And obvious lying isn't going to ingratiate you with the cop.

If you're tanked, just hand them a card stating you're exercising your 5th Amendment rights and roll the window back up. If you're convinced you're sober, just ask for the breath test, as others recommended.

The tough call is when you're in between.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by Cave Johnson

Yeah, that's not true. The PC is the alcohol (legit or otherwise) they smell on your breath. And obvious lying isn't going to ingratiate you with the cop.

If you're tanked, just hand them a card stating you're exercising your 5th Amendment rights and roll the window back up. If you're convinced you're sober, just ask for the breath test, as others recommended.

The tough call is when you're in between.

1) If you are drunk you WILL smell like booze. Open the sun roof/moon roof (why is there a difference?) and keep the windows only cracked enough to pass your information.

2) Keep the vents on to blow clean air in.

3) Avoid getting pulled over. Most of the FST's or DRE training the cops get only requires you to speak or perform (or not perform) the most basic of functions.

4) DO NOT take the most direct route home. The shorter the distance you give someone to evaluate your performance the smaller the sample size. Make turns. Often. Stop often. Turn again.

If you're drunk and on the highway someone will spot you. It's inevitable.

5)Any time it's even a question a cab call is always less expensive than a fine...

[bevischief]

Originally Posted by Rausch

1) If you are drunk you WILL smell like booze. Open the sun roof/moon roof (why is there a difference?) and keep the windows only cracked enough to pass your information.

2) Keep the vents on to blow clean air in.

3) Avoid getting pulled over. Most of the FST's or DRE training the cops get only requires you to speak or perform (or not perform) the most basic of functions.

4) DO NOT take the most direct route home. The shorter the distance you give someone to evaluate your performance the smaller the sample size. Make turns. Often. Stop often. Turn again.

If you're drunk and on the highway someone will spot you. It's inevitable.

5)Any time it's even a question a cab call is always less expensive than a fine...

There is are services up here for $20 they drive you and car home. They have their cards in every bar up here.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by bevischief

There is are services up here for $20 they drive you and car home. They have their cards in every bar up here.

Good idea.

Might take a year or 20 to catch on in the cowtowns of MidMo...

[DJJasonp]

Originally Posted by sedated

Never, ever, EVER tell a cop you've had anything to drink if they pull you over. Instant probable cause. They will immediately pull you out of the car and give you the FST.

unless your Jovan Belcher!

[burt]

Originally Posted by sedated

Never, ever, EVER tell a cop you've had anything to drink if they pull you over. Instant probable cause. They will immediately pull you out of the car and give you the FST.

3 beers in 4 hours...but you can smell it on your breath....NOT telling them gives them probable cause....

[crazycoffey]

Originally Posted by burt

3 beers in 4 hours...but you can smell it on your breath....NOT telling them gives them probable cause....

the smell is reasonable suspicion to start FSTs, asking is just to see if you're going to be honest. IMO

and haha clay....

[Coach]

Well, just an FYI, whenever you do drive through Lansing, Kansas, the police there are very STRICT when it comes to the speed limit. So if the limit is 40, I'd drive 35.

[bevischief]

Originally Posted by Coach

Well, just an FYI, whenever you do drive through Lansing, Kansas, the police there are very STRICT when it comes to the speed limit. So if the limit is 40, I'd drive 35.

I grew up there the police and city like to f*** with all the non locals and give them tickets. This has been going on for about 40 years. Besides that they have to find a way to fund all the police cars the police keep wrecking.

[seclark]

only once...1979. pulled over because a guy riding w/me was drunk, hanging out the window hollering at some girls. did all the tests and failed. cops cuffed me and took me to the station to blow. i'd only been off work for about 20 minutes and hadn't drank anything. they let me go. i was just a kid, so i was more scared than pissed.

the kicker was, while they hauled my ass to the station, the dumbasses let the drunk kid follow, driving my car.
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