Refusal to participate in Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs) during a traffic stop generally results in specific legal consequences. These consequences stem from implied consent laws, which stipulate that by operating a motor vehicle on public roads, drivers consent to chemical testing for blood alcohol content or the presence of drugs if lawfully arrested for driving under the influence. The specific ramifications of declining to submit to such tests vary by jurisdiction, but typically involve automatic license suspension or revocation.
Implied consent laws are designed to deter impaired driving and facilitate the prosecution of those who choose to drive under the influence. Historically, these laws arose from the need to secure evidence in DUI cases where drivers might otherwise decline testing to avoid self-incrimination. License suspension or revocation serves as both a deterrent to refusing the test and a penalty for potentially obstructing the investigation of a suspected DUI offense. The severity and duration of these penalties often increase with subsequent refusals.