DUI Investigations & The Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus Test
 Below
is the instruction given by the National
Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) to
DUI law enforcement officers on how to administer and score
the "Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus" Field Sobriety Test:
Nystagmus refers to a jerking of the eyes. Several different
kinds of Nystagmus exist, some of them influenced by alcohol.
The test you give at roadside in a DUI investigation is a test
of "horizontal gaze nystagmus"-the nystagmus that
occurs when the DUI suspect's eyes gaze to the side. Many people
will show some jerking if the eyes move far enough to the side.
When a driver is intoxiacted, however, three signs will be observed:
The jerking of the eyes occurs much sooner. That is, the
more intoxicated a person becomes, the less he has to move
his eyes to the side in order for the jerking to occur. If you have a suspected drunk driver move his eyes as far
to the side as possible, you can estimate in a general way
the extent of intoxication. The greater the alcohol impairment,
the more distinct the nystagmus will be in the extreme gaze
position. If the DUI suspect is intoxicated, he cannot follow a slowly moving object smoothly with his eyes.
Estimating a 45-Degree Angle
Since the degree of impairment is indicated by the angle at
which nystagmus begins, you will have to learn how to estimate
this angle, particularly the 45-degree angle, since that is
the crucial marker for estimating BAC.
Practice examining the eyes of several people, so that you
can become familiar with what a 45-degree angle of gaze looks
like. Next, practice without the device, but check your estimates
periodically.
Practice until you can consistently estimate 45 degrees. Check
yourself monthly with the device to be sure that your accuracy
has been sustained.
How to Administer the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus Test:
Give the DUI suspect the following instructions from a position
of interrogation (that is, with your weapon away from the suspect):
I AM GOING TO CHECK YOUR EYES. (Request that the DUI suspect
remove glasses or hard contact lens at this time if they are
being worn. Nystagmus is not influenced by how clearly the suspect
can see the object he is to follow.) NOW KEEP YOUR HEAD STILL
AND FOLLOW THIS (indicate what he is to follow) WITH YOUR EYES.
DO NOT MOVE YOUR EYES BACK TO THE CENTER UNTIL I TELL YOU. (If
the DUI suspect moves his head, use a flashlight or your free
hand as a chinrest.)
Check the suspect's right eye by moving the object to the suspect's
right. Have the suspect follow the object until the eyes cannot
move further to the side. Make this movement in about two seconds,
and observe: 1) whether the DUI suspect was able to follow the
object smoothly or whether the motion was quite jerky; and 2)
how distinct the nystagmus is at the maximum deviation.
Move the object a second time to the 45-degree angle of gaze,
taking about four seconds. As the subject's eye follows the
object, watch for it to start jerking. If you think you see
nystagmus, stop the movement to see if the jerking continues.
If it does, this point is the angle of onset. If it does not,
keep moving the object until the jerking does occur or until
you reach the imaginary 45-degree angle. Note whether or not
the onset occurs before the 45-degree angle of gaze. (The onset
point at a BAC of 0.10 percent is about 40 degrees).
If the DUI suspect's eyes start jerking before they reach 45
degrees, check to see that some white of the eye is still showing
on the side closest to the ear, as in the photograph. If not
white of the eye is showing, you either have taken the eye too
far to the side (that is, more than 45 degrees) or the person
has unusual eyes that will not deviate very far to the side.
Use the criteria of onset before 45 degrees only if you can
see some white at the outside of the eye.
Repeat this entire procedure for the DUI suspect's left eye.
When observing the left eye at 45 degrees of gaze, some white
of the eye again should be visible at the outside (closest to
the ear) of the eye.
NOTE: Nystagmus may be due to causes other than alcohol
in three of four percent of the population. These other causes
include seizure medications, phencyclidine (PCP), barbiturates
and other depressants. A large disparity between the performance
of the right and left eye may indicate brain damage.
Scoring
Watch for three signs on intoxication in each eye. Give one
point for each item checked for a maximum of six points.
Onset of alcohol gaze nystagmus in the right eye occurs
before 45 degrees. Do not score this item unless some white
is visible on the outside of the right eye (closest to the
ear) at the point of onset. Nystagmus in the right eye when moved as far as possible
to the right is moderate or distinct. Do not score this
item if you only see the faint jerking that occurs at the
onset point. The right eye cannot follow a moving object smoothly. If
you score this item, be sure that the jerkiness was not
due to your moving the object in a jerky manner. Onset of alcohol gaze nystagmus in the left eye occurs
before 45 degrees. If you score this item, be certain that
some white is visible on the outside of the left eye (closest
to the ear) at the point of onset. Nystagmus in the left eye when the eye moves as far as
possible to the left is moderate or distinct. The left eye cannot follow a moving object smoothly.
If the DUI suspect scores four or more points out of the six
possible points on this test, classify his BAC as above 0.10
percent. Using this criterion you will be able to correctly
classify about 77 percent of you suspects with respect to whether
they are drunk driving. That probability was determined during
limited laboratory and field-testing and is given simply to
help you weigh the various sobriety tests in this battery as
you make your arrest decision.
Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus Test Scoring Sheet
- Nystagmus in right eye is moderate or distinct when eye is moved as far as possible to the right.
- Right eye cannot follow moving object smoothly.
- Onset of gaze nystagmus in right eye occurs before 45 degrees (some white is visible).
- Nystagmus in left eye is moderate or distinct when eye is moved as far as possible to left.
- Left eye cannot follow moving object smoothly.
- Onset of gaze nystagmus in left eye occurs before 45 degrees (some white is visible)(Decision Point: 4 Clues)
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