SFST Documentation 3

Question 1

Why is it critical to document the exact time of each SFST administration?

Accepted Answer

To correlate test performance with BAC at the time of driving using retrograde extrapolation

Answer

Recording exact SFST times allows toxicologists to use retrograde extrapolation to estimate the subject's BAC at the time of driving.

Question 2

An officer notices the subject is wearing high-heeled shoes before the One-Leg Stand test. What is the correct documentation action?

Accepted Answer

Note that the subject was offered the option to remove footwear and record the subject's choice

Answer

SFST standards require offering the subject the option to remove footwear before the OLS, and documentation must reflect this offer and the subject's decision.

Question 3

In a prosecution, defense counsel challenges the officer's documentation because the field notes do not match the formal report. What is the best practice to prevent this?

Accepted Answer

Ensure field notes are preserved and consistent with the formal report

Answer

Field notes must be preserved and consistent with formal reports because discrepancies can undermine officer credibility and case integrity.

Question 4

When documenting the subject's eye condition for HGN, why should the officer record whether the subject is wearing contact lenses?

Accepted Answer

Contact lenses can cause false positives for lack of smooth pursuit in some individuals

Answer

Hard contact lenses in particular can create optical artifacts that may mimic nystagmus, so noting their presence protects the validity of HGN documentation.

Question 5

Which information is required on the standard SFST scoring sheet but is NOT typically found in a supplemental narrative report?

Accepted Answer

Individual clue-by-clue checkboxes for each standardized test

Answer

Standardized scoring sheets use individual clue checkboxes for systematic recording, while narrative reports describe observations in prose rather than checkbox format.

(SFST) Standardized Field Sobriety Testing Certified Practice Test

(SFST) Standardized Field Sobriety Testing Certified Practice Test

SFST Documentation 3