Let’s envision a scenario you may or may not be familiar with:

• You’re driving late at night.
• You get pulled over.
• You are asked if you’ve been drinking. 

After you’ve been pulled over and are asked about drinking, multiple things can or will happen afterward. One thing an officer might do is ask you to step out of your vehicle and do what is called a field sobriety test. These can include:

• Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus test (HGN)
• Heel-to-toe
• Finger-to-nose
• One-leg stand
• Alphabetical recitation

And, of course, others.

What is The Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus Test

The Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus test is often done after an officer suspects a person has been drinking behind the wheel. As stated above, the HGN test is one of many Field Sobriety Tests or FSTs an officer can do in an incident. HGN stems from the medical word nystagmus, which means involuntary jerking of the eyeballs. When under the influence, the jerking of the eyes becomes more prominent, thus, being able to conclude the person isn’t in their normal homeostasis. 

Understanding How The HGN is Conducted

The HGN test is done by an officer holding an object 12-15 inches away from your nose and slowly moving it from side to side. This tests how smoothly your eyes can follow the object while keeping your head still, assuming you’re completely sober. If you aren’t, your eyes can be seen jerking, and your head may not even be able to keep still. During this test, the officer will also look to see any jerking motion or nystagmus in your eyeballs before reaching a 45-degree angle. Before any part of this test is done, the officer must check for equal pupil size and resting nystagmus.

Scoring of an HGN Test

Each eye is scored independently, resulting in an overall score of six. Three cues are scored: smooth pursuit, distinct nystagmus, and the onset of nystagmus prior to a 45-degree angle. If the officer concludes with a score of at least four points, you failed the test, and an arrest can and most likely will be made for driving under the influence. 

Failing an FST isn’t always the end of the road for you. Click here to understand common myths about getting a DUI charge when failing a sobriety test. 

Contact an Experienced DUI Attorney 

If you have been charged with a DUI, the most important thing you can do is call an experienced DUI right away. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or think you might have been falsely accused. Call me at 912-656-5996, or send an email to defense@patellawfirm.net. I’m here to help you!