State v. Meek

(on reassignment).

In this intermediate appeal we reverse the trial court, reiterating our prior holdings that field sobriety tests are not protected by the constitutional privilege against self-incrimination.

FACTS

In the early morning hours of March 5, 1988, Highway Patrolman Randy Hofeldt observed Delmas Meek’s vehicle weaving between the lanes of U.S. Highway 14 in Hyde County, South Dakota. Officer Ho-feldt stopped Meek’s vehicle. He approached the vehicle and observed that Meek had blood-shot and glassy eyes, a flushed face and slurred speech. Hofeldt also detected a strong odor of alcohol…