The "Finger-to-Nose" Test

The Finger-to-nose test is another field sobriety exercise that is commonly administered to DUI suspects.  Like the other exercises, police use this test for confirming their original suspicion that you are impaired and for obtaining enough probable cause for your arrest.  NHTSA does not specifically support the Finger-to-nose exercise, but it is still commonly used and admissible.  Check your local laws for more information on the exercises' use in your jurisdiction.

For this test, you will be asked to stand with your arms out horizontally at your sides, feet together.  With your eyes closed, you will then be asked to take one hand at a time upon command the officer's command, and place it straight out in front of your body, then bending your arm at the elbow forward, move to touch the tip of your finger to the tip of your nose.  You will then place your arm back out at your side.

There are significant variations of how this test is conducted in the field.  Sometimes an officer will want you to touch your nose, put your arm back out, and then put it back out.  Other times you will not have to bend your arm at the elbow forward.  This is an extremely tricky test, and it is very rare to see a police report where a person has performed it 100 percent correctly.  Also, officers love to try to trip you up by requesting the same hand twice ("left hand, right hand, left hand, right hand, right hand...").

You will be evaluated on how well you can follow directions, how close you can get to touching your nose with your finger instead of other spots on your face, and how well you can stand in that awkward position without swaying or falling over.  And remember, even moving back to a normal standing position is considered "falling over."