DUI Field Sobriety Tests: The Rhomberg Balance Test

The Romberg Balance FST was among one of the DUI sobriety tests considered by SCRI during the 1977 study. The Rhomberg test was also considered one of the six optimal DUI sobriety tests during a 1974 Finnish study. The Rhomberg test was implemented by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) during the formation of their Drug Recognition Evaluator (DRE) program and it was accepted by NHTSA due to its unique divided attention qualities.

Administration of the Rhomberg DUI Test

The Romberg Balance FST requires the DUI suspect to stand with his/her feet together, head tilted slightly back, and eyes closed while estimating the passage of 30 seconds. When the subject believes that the 30 seconds have passed, he/she should tilt his/her head forward, open his/her eyes, and say "stop."

a. Instruct the DUI suspect to stand straight with his/her feet together and arms down to his/her sides. That position is to be maintained while the test instructions are given. Emphasize that the DUI suspect must not start the test until told to "start."

b. When told to do so, instruct the DUI suspect to tilt his/her head back slightly and close his/her eyes. Ensure that the DUI suspect tilts his/her head back prior to closing his/her eyes. Closing the eyes first, then tilting the head back, may impair an individual's normal equilibrium.

c. Instruct the DUI suspect that when told to "start," he/she must keep his/her head tilted back with his/her eyes closed until he/she thinks that 30 seconds have passed by. Do not tell the DUI suspect to count to 30 seconds or use any other specific procedure to keep track of time. Likewise, do not tell the subject that he/she is not allowed to count to 30 seconds.

d. When the DUI suspect believes that 30 seconds have passes, he/she should bring his/her head forward, open his/her eyes, and say, "Stop."

e. Officers should glance at a watch and pick a convenient time to start the test. When the subject says "stop," record the passage of time. If 90 seconds elapses before the subject opens his/her eyes, stop the test and ask "How much time was that?"

Test Interpretation of the Rhomberg Test

Some drugs tend to "speed up" the subject's internal body clock; so, the DUI suspect may open his/her eyes after only 10 or 15 seconds. Other drugs may "slow down" the body's internal clock; so the subject may keep his/her eyes closed for 60 or more seconds. The major clues associated with the Romberg Balance FST are:

a. Subject's ability to follow instructions.
b. The amount and direction in which the subject sways.
c. The subject's estimated passage of 30 seconds.
d. Eyelid tremors and body/leg tremors.
e. Muscle tone (either more rigid or more flaccid than normal).
f. Any statement or unusual sounds made by the subject when performing the test.