No. Field sobriety tests in Rhode Island are voluntary. You can politely decline to perform the walk-and-turn, one-leg stand, or horizontal gaze nystagmus tests, and your refusal cannot be used to convict you of DUI on its own. The breathalyzer test is a different matter. Under Rhode Island's implied consent law, refusing the breathalyzer triggers a separate civil charge and an automatic license suspension regardless of whether you are convicted of DUI. Field sobriety tests are designed to produce evidence the prosecutor can use against you. Most defense lawyers advise declining them and asking to speak with a lawyer before deciding on the breathalyzer.
