NC DWI DETECTION AND SFST EXAM QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE 2026
Addiction - Answers Habitual, psychological, and physiological dependence on a substance beyond
one's voluntary control.
Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) - Answers The percentage of alcohol in a person's blood.
Breath Alcohol Concentration - Answers The percentage of alcohol in a person's breath, as measured
by a breath testing device.
Clue - Answers Something that leads to the solution of a problem.
Divided Attention Test - Answers A test which required the subject to concentrate on both mental and
physical tasks at the same time. The two psychophysical tests, Walk and Turn (WAT) and One Leg
Stand (OLS), require the suspect to divide their attention.
Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) - Answers An individual who successfully completed all phases of the
DRE training requirements for certification established by the IACP and NHTSA. The word "evaluator,"
"technician," or similar words may be used as a substitute for "expert," depending upon locale or
jurisdiction.
DWI/DUI - Answers The acronym "DWI" means driving while impaired and is synonymous with the
acronym "DUI," driving under the influence or other acronyms used to denote impaired driving.
3 Phases of DWI Detection - Answers Phase one: Vehicle in motion
Phase two: Personal contact
Phase three: Pre-arrest screening
Evidence - Answers Any means by which some alleged fact that has been submitted to investigation
my either be established or disproved. Evidence of a DWI violation my be of various types:
a. Physical (or real) evidence: something tangible, visible, or audible
b. Well established facts (judicial notice)
c. Demonstrative evidence: demonstrations performed in the courtroom
d. Written matter or documentation
e. Testimony
Field Sobriety Test - Answers Any one of several roadside tests that can be used to determine
whether a subject is impaired.
Gait Ataxia - Answers An unsteady, staggering gait (walk) in which walking is uncoordinated and
appears to be "not ordered".
General Indicator - Answers Behavior or observations of the subject that are observed and not
specifically tested for. (Observational and Behavioral Indicators).
Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) - Answers Involuntary jerking of the eyes occurring as the eyes gaze
to the side. The first test administered in the SFSTs.
Impairment - Answers One of several items used to describe the degradation of mental and/or
physical abilities necessary for safely operating a vehicle.
Implied Consent Law - Answers Suspected DWI drivers are deemed to have given their consent to
submit to chemical testing. If the driver fails to provide a chemical test, they can be subject to license
sanctions.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) - Answers An administration within the
United States Department of Transportation that exercises primary responsibility for coordinating
federal efforts to ensure the safe design and operation of motor vehicles.
Nystagmus - Answers An involuntary jerking of the eyes.
One Leg Stand (OLS) - Answers A divided attention field sobriety test. One of the tests administered in
the SFSTs.
Illegal Per Se - Answers Used to describe a law which makes it illegal to drive while having a certain
percentage of alcohol in the blood or breath (BAC<.08)
DWI Second Phase and Goal - Answers Personal contact. The officer observes and interviews the
driver face to face; determines whether to ask the driver to step from the vehicle; and observes the
driver's exit and walk from the vehicle.
DWI Third Phase and Goal - Answers Pre-Arrest Screening. The officer administers field sobriety tests
to determine whether there is probable cause to arrest the driver for DWI. Depending on the agency
policy, the officer may administer or could arrange to have a preliminary breath test conducted.
Preliminary Breath Test (PBT) - Answers A pre-arrest breath test administered during investigation of
a possible DWI violator to obtain an indication of the person's blood alcohol concentration.
Addiction - Answers Habitual, psychological, and physiological dependence on a substance beyond
one's voluntary control.
Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) - Answers The percentage of alcohol in a person's blood.
Breath Alcohol Concentration - Answers The percentage of alcohol in a person's breath, as measured
by a breath testing device.
Clue - Answers Something that leads to the solution of a problem.
Divided Attention Test - Answers A test which required the subject to concentrate on both mental and
physical tasks at the same time. The two psychophysical tests, Walk and Turn (WAT) and One Leg
Stand (OLS), require the suspect to divide their attention.
Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) - Answers An individual who successfully completed all phases of the
DRE training requirements for certification established by the IACP and NHTSA. The word "evaluator,"
"technician," or similar words may be used as a substitute for "expert," depending upon locale or
jurisdiction.
DWI/DUI - Answers The acronym "DWI" means driving while impaired and is synonymous with the
acronym "DUI," driving under the influence or other acronyms used to denote impaired driving.
3 Phases of DWI Detection - Answers Phase one: Vehicle in motion
Phase two: Personal contact
Phase three: Pre-arrest screening
Evidence - Answers Any means by which some alleged fact that has been submitted to investigation
my either be established or disproved. Evidence of a DWI violation my be of various types:
a. Physical (or real) evidence: something tangible, visible, or audible
b. Well established facts (judicial notice)
c. Demonstrative evidence: demonstrations performed in the courtroom
d. Written matter or documentation
e. Testimony
Field Sobriety Test - Answers Any one of several roadside tests that can be used to determine
whether a subject is impaired.
Gait Ataxia - Answers An unsteady, staggering gait (walk) in which walking is uncoordinated and
appears to be "not ordered".
General Indicator - Answers Behavior or observations of the subject that are observed and not
specifically tested for. (Observational and Behavioral Indicators).
Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) - Answers Involuntary jerking of the eyes occurring as the eyes gaze
to the side. The first test administered in the SFSTs.
Impairment - Answers One of several items used to describe the degradation of mental and/or
physical abilities necessary for safely operating a vehicle.
Implied Consent Law - Answers Suspected DWI drivers are deemed to have given their consent to
submit to chemical testing. If the driver fails to provide a chemical test, they can be subject to license
sanctions.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) - Answers An administration within the
United States Department of Transportation that exercises primary responsibility for coordinating
federal efforts to ensure the safe design and operation of motor vehicles.
Nystagmus - Answers An involuntary jerking of the eyes.
One Leg Stand (OLS) - Answers A divided attention field sobriety test. One of the tests administered in
the SFSTs.
Illegal Per Se - Answers Used to describe a law which makes it illegal to drive while having a certain
percentage of alcohol in the blood or breath (BAC<.08)
DWI Second Phase and Goal - Answers Personal contact. The officer observes and interviews the
driver face to face; determines whether to ask the driver to step from the vehicle; and observes the
driver's exit and walk from the vehicle.
DWI Third Phase and Goal - Answers Pre-Arrest Screening. The officer administers field sobriety tests
to determine whether there is probable cause to arrest the driver for DWI. Depending on the agency
policy, the officer may administer or could arrange to have a preliminary breath test conducted.
Preliminary Breath Test (PBT) - Answers A pre-arrest breath test administered during investigation of
a possible DWI violator to obtain an indication of the person's blood alcohol concentration.
