What is a common misconception about sobriety tests?

Sobriety tests, commonly known as field sobriety tests, are often viewed by the public as entirely reliable indicators of a person's level of impairment. However, this is a misconception. While these tests are designed to assess a driver's coordination, balance, and ability to follow instructions, they can be influenced by many factors that do not relate to alcohol consumption. For instance, physical conditions, medication, fatigue, or even environmental factors such as road conditions can impact a person's performance on these tests. Consequently, while they provide some insight into sobriety, they are not foolproof indicators of impairment and should be interpreted with caution by law enforcement.

The other misconceptions about sobriety tests include ideas about where they can be administered, the nature of compliance, and the times they are conducted, all of which are less about their accuracy as a measurement tool and more about the circumstances surrounding their use.