Massachusetts DWI DUI OUI Field Sobriety Test Police Training Manual

ALPHABET

This technique requires the subject to recite a part of the alphabet. You instruct the subject to recite the alphabet beginning with a letter other than A and stopping at a letter other than Z. For example, you might say to a driver, “Recite the alphabet, beginning with the letter E as in Edward and stopping with the letter P as in Paul.” This divides the driver’s attention because the driver must concentrate to begin at an unusual starting point and recall where to stop.

COUNT DOWN

This technique requires the subject to count out loud 15 or more numbers in reverse sequence. For example, you might request a driver to, “Count out loud backwards, starting with the number 68 and ending with the number 53.” This, too, divides attention because the driver must continuously concentrate to count backwards while trying to recall where to stop.

NOTE: This technique should never be given using starting and stopping points that end in 0 or 5 because these numbers are too easy to recall. For example, do not request that the driver count backwards from 65 to 50. Instead, ask the driver to count backwards from 64 to 49.

FINGER COUNT

In this technique, the subject is asked to touch the tip of
the thumb in turn to the tip of each finger on the same
hand while simultaneously counting up one, two, three,
four; then to reverse direction on the fingers while simultaneously
counting down four, three, two, one.

In each instance, note whether and how well the subject is able to perform the divided attention task.

THE EXIT SEQUENCE

Your decision to instruct the driver to step from the vehicle usually is made after you have developed a suspicion that the driver is impaired. (Except, however, that you may instruct a suspect to exit the vehicle as a means of ensuring your own safety. Safety considerations take precedence over all other considerations.) Even though that suspicion may be very strong, usually the suspect is not yet under arrest when you give the instruction.

How the driver steps and walks from the vehicle and actions or behavior during the exit sequence may provide important evidence of impairment. Be alert to the driver who:

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