But the only thing they had to suspect Wendy Farris of was being a responsible motorist in stopping when too tired to drive safely. Maybe a breathalyser test could be warranted just to be safe, and if passed apologise for wasting her time.
It sounds like the officers were either running a scam or were just looking for people to harass as make-work. “Field sobriety test”, what is that even? Sounds like a total scam.
Field sobriety tests are actually pretty reasonable. They're basically a collection of physical and mental tests that can pretty accurately determine impairment. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Field_sobriety_testing is pretty good, but the TLDR is that they use things like the ability for your eyes to smoothly track a moving object, or the ability to stand on 1 foot for 30 seconds while counting. They aren't perfect, but they're pretty reliable as a way of screening people.
IMO the bigger scam is the number of baseless infractions that cops can use to pull you over in the first place. If a cop wants to pull you over, they can find a reason if they follow you for a few minutes.
How do sobriety tests work with people with disabilities that don't themselves prevent the individual from driving? Hint often not well. If you can afford competent counsel you may well get the case tossed out if there isn't any actual evidence of impairment after they try to coerce you with threats of scary long prison sentences.
If there is anything that sounds reasonable about law enforcement in America cops all over America will nearly without a doubt find a way to make it unreasonable.
Field sobriety tests are 100% bullshit. They are purposefully designed so that the officer can administer the test, you can do everything he says perfectly, and then the officer can write a police report making it look like you failed without technically contradicting the facts.
For example they'll tell you to walk the white line. You'll do it easily. Then they'll tell you to do something else. Then they'll write in the report you failed to remain on the white line for the second task even though it was obvious from the context that wasn't the intention of the officer. The prosecutor will ask the cop on the stand "did you ever tell the defendant to get off the white line" and they'll be able to truthfully say no.
But the only thing they had to suspect Wendy Farris of was being a responsible motorist in stopping when too tired to drive safely. Maybe a breathalyser test could be warranted just to be safe, and if passed apologise for wasting her time.
It sounds like the officers were either running a scam or were just looking for people to harass as make-work. “Field sobriety test”, what is that even? Sounds like a total scam.