# Can you request a breathalyzer?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-request-a-breathalyzer/551031>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 22, 2010, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-request-a-breathalyzer/551031 "2010-08-22T03:11:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![zwede](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ac91a4/32.png) [@zwede](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zwede)\
**Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-request-a-breathalyzer/551031/21 "2010-08-25T15:47:18Z")

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> [@clairobscur](#):
>
> > [@Apollyon](#):
> >
> > We don’t have/use field tests in NZ – I’ve only ever seen them on US TV & Movies. Current process here for DUI checkpoints is:  
> > .
> 
> Same thing here. There’s no “field tests”. The police makes you “blow into the bag”, and if it’s positive, you’re taken to the police station for a blood test. You don’t even need to leave your car (if you’ve actually been sober, that is).

Wouldn’t that mean you can be high as a kite on all kinds of drugs and still be allowed to continue driving? It would seem likely that you could “hold it together” long enough to state your name and blow in the bag and seem normal even after doing drugs.

The US field sobriety test is for more than just alcohol.

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**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\
**Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-request-a-breathalyzer/551031/22 "2010-08-25T16:11:21Z")

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> [@zwede](#):
>
> The US field sobriety test is for more than just alcohol.

Correct. It tests things like balance and anxiety.😉

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