Field sobriety tests are used in conjunction with other evidence to determine probable cause for arrest?

• A. To convict the driver.
• B. To identify license status.
• C. To assess impairment and help establish probable cause for arrest.
• D. To determine guilt at trial.

Answer: (C)

Field sobriety tests are used to assess impairment and help establish probable cause for arrest. They offer objective clues about a driver’s balance, coordination, and attention, which, when combined with other evidence such as erratic driving, odor of alcohol, slurred speech, or admissions, contribute to a reasonable belief that the driver is impaired. This basis—probable cause—must exist before making an arrest, and the tests themselves are not definitive proof of guilt. They are part of the investigative toolset used before arrest, not a method to convict or determine guilt at trial. License status is determined separately, and guilt at trial is decided later through formal proceedings.