What should an officer do if a subject performs poorly on the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs)?

When a subject performs poorly on the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs), it provides the officer with evidence that can be used to support the suspicion of impairment. The SFSTs are designed to assess a person's ability to perform tasks that require divided attention, which can be significantly affected by alcohol or drug impairment.

In this context, considering arresting the individual for DUI is appropriate because the results of the SFSTs, along with other observations, can help an officer establish probable cause to believe the driver is operating under the influence. The decision to arrest is based on a combination of factors, including the performance on the SFSTs, the officer's observations of the driver's behavior, and any other evidence available at the scene.

Ignoring performance would disregard crucial evidence indicating possible impairment, while only issuing a warning would not address the potential danger posed by an impaired driver. Conducting a secondary test alone may not be sufficient if the initial evidence from the SFSTs strongly suggests that the individual is unfit to drive. Thus, an officer's consideration of arrest aligns with the protocol for handling suspected DUI cases based on the results of the SFSTs.