When you got your Indiana driver's license, you agreed to submit to a chemical test if an officer has reasonable suspicion you're driving impaired. If you refuse a breathalyzer or blood test, your license gets automatically suspended for one year (or two years if you've had a prior OWI).

So you can refuse the walk-and-turn test without losing your license. But if you refuse the breathalyzer after being arrested, that's a different story.

What Happens When You Refuse Field Sobriety Tests

Officers don't like it when you decline field tests, but they can't force you to do them. What they can do is use your refusal as part of their investigation.

They might note in their report that you "refused to cooperate." They might use it to build a case that you knew you were too impaired to pass. And most importantly, they'll often move directly to requesting a chemical test instead.

Here's how it typically plays out on a stop along State Road 3 or coming through Vernon:

1. Officer pulls you over for a traffic violation or suspicious driving

2. Officer smells alcohol or notices other signs of impairment

3. Officer asks you to perform field sobriety tests

4. You decline

5. Officer arrests you based on other observations (odor, slurred speech, bloodshot eyes)

6. Officer requests a chemical test at the Jennings County Jail or a local hospital

So refusing field tests doesn't necessarily prevent an arrest. It just removes one piece of evidence the prosecutor might use against you.

The Three Standard Tests (And Why They're Problematic)

If you do agree to perform field sobriety tests, here's what you're likely facing:

The Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) Test

The officer holds a pen or small light about 12-15 inches from your face and moves it side to side. They're watching for involuntary jerking in your eyes, which can indicate intoxication.

The problem: Your eyes can jerk for dozens of reasons that have nothing to do with alcohol. Fatigue, certain medications, neurological conditions, even caffeine can cause this.

The Walk-and-Turn Test

You're told to walk nine steps in a straight line, heel to toe, turn around, and walk back the same way. You're supposed to keep your arms at your sides and count each step out loud.

The problem: This test is designed to be difficult even when you're stone-cold sober. Add in uneven pavement, gravel on the shoulder of the road, poor lighting, uncomfortable shoes, or a back injury, and suddenly a sober person looks impaired.

The One-Leg Stand Test

You lift one foot approximately six inches off the ground and hold it there for 30 seconds while counting out loud.

The problem: Anyone with knee problems, hip issues, balance disorders, or who's overweight might struggle with this test. Officers are looking for specific "clues" like swaying, using arms for balance, or putting your foot down. But these aren't reliable indicators of intoxication.

Why These Tests Fail Sober People

I've seen plenty of cases here in Jennings County where completely sober drivers failed field sobriety tests. Here's why:

Medical conditions matter. Inner ear problems throw off your balance. Neurological conditions affect coordination. Leg or back injuries make physical tests nearly impossible. But officers don't always ask about these conditions before administering tests.

Environment matters. A dark roadside at night with cars whizzing past is not a controlled testing environment. Uneven ground, loose gravel, rain, cold weather: all of these make the tests harder. I've had clients who were asked to perform tests on a sloped shoulder of the road.

Nerves matter. Even if you haven't had a drop to drink, being pulled over is stressful. Your hands might shake. You might have trouble concentrating on complex instructions. Officers sometimes interpret nervousness as guilt.

The tests are subjective. There's no camera measuring exactly how many inches you sway or whether your heel truly touched your toe. It's the officer's opinion. And if they've already decided you're impaired based on other factors, confirmation bias kicks in.

What North Vernon Drivers Should Do During an OWI Stop

If you're pulled over in North Vernon, Hayden, Scipio, or anywhere in Jennings County, here's my practical advice:

Be polite and respectful. Getting argumentative never helps. Answer basic questions like your name and where you're going. But remember: you're not required to answer questions designed to incriminate you.

You don't have to explain where you've been or whether you've been drinking. You can politely say, "I'd prefer not to answer that question."

You can decline field sobriety tests. If you have any medical conditions that would affect your performance, declining is probably smart. If you're nervous or if it's dark and the road conditions are poor, declining might be the right call.

Understand the chemical test decision is more serious. If you're arrested and taken to the Jennings County Jail, refusing the breathalyzer means automatic license suspension. Sometimes it's still the right decision depending on your situation, but you need to understand the immediate consequence.

Call an attorney as soon as possible. Whether you performed the tests or refused them, whether you took the breathalyzer or declined it: call someone who knows how these cases work in the local court system.