Event recording: https://share.descript.com/view/sWgJZXPaCre
Event notes and transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zaf25z3paB8Rh6xFf-WcPkwOFOUd4t_DCndGFxEz38A/edit?usp=sharing
Mr. Ott will examine NHTSA's SFST validation studies from 1977 to 2007, revealing a pattern of high false positive rates that challenges conventional courtroom testimony about test accuracy. Key findings include:
1998 San Diego Study: While NHTSA reports 91% overall accuracy, false positive rates tell a different story: HGN showed 4+ clues in 37% of people under 0.08g; Walk and Turn showed 2+ clues in 52% under 0.08g; One Leg Stand showed 2+ clues in 41% under 0.08g.
2007 HGN Study: When properly administered, the false positive rate was 67%, with 65% of people below 0.05g showing 4+ clues. NHTSA addressed this by changing standards to lower published false positive rates.
Historical Studies (1977-1997): Consistent false positive rates ranging from 18% to 27%, with the 1983 study showing 94% of incorrect officer decisions were false arrests.
Mr. Ott argues that while SFSTs serve their intended purpose as probable cause screening tools, their presentation in court under the beyond-a-reasonable-doubt standard requires full disclosure of false positive rates—information rarely provided to juries.
Joshua Ott served as a Police Officer with the Roswell, Georgia Police Department for over 10 years (2005-2016), conducting approximately 3,000-4,000 DUI investigations as a member of the DUI Task Force and Field Training Officer. He served as both a Drug Recognition Expert and Drug Recognition Expert Instructor, and as a Standardized Field Sobriety Testing Instructor, training numerous officers throughout his career.
Mr. Ott was also assigned to the Motor Unit/Traffic Enforcement Unit investigating serious injury and fatality collisions. His awards include Roswell PD Officer of the Year (2007), multiple MADD Georgia DUI Hero recognitions (2008-2016), and Honor Graduate distinctions from both law enforcement and military training. He has been qualified as an expert in DUI investigations, SFST administration and interpretation, HGN, drug recognition, and accident reconstruction. He now operates Caselock, Inc., providing expert testimony and case reviews for cases involving alcohol and drug impairment.
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