Below is a summary of the Hand Coordination Test used by officers in Boating Under the Influence cases. The instructions are lengthy and confusing if it is your first time ever hearing them. There are also alleged "clues" that the officer is looking for and most people do not think they have made any errors on the test.

​INSTRUCTIONS: on the Hand Coordination Test: 

1. Make a fist with both hands;
2. Place your left fist against your chest;
3. Place your right fist against your left fist (officer demonstrates);
4. Remain in this position while I explain the test;
5. When I say begin, you must perform 4 tasks;
6. The first task is to count out loud from 1 to 4 while you move your fists in a step-like fashion;
7. Make contact between the fists at each step (officer demonstrates);
8. The second task is to memorize the position of your fists after you count to 4;
9. Clap your hands 3 times and return your fists to the memorized position;
10. The third task is to move your fists in a step-like fashion in reverse order counting out loud from 5 to 8 and returning your left fist to your chest;
11. The fourth task is to open you hands plams down and place them in your lap.

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THE CLUES: on the Hand Coordination Test:
The officer will then begin a sequence of instructions by varying which finger to use (left or right) to touch your nose.
There are 15 different boxes that an officer may check on the field sobriety sheet to mark you for a "clue" on the test. These are the clues:

1. The person was unable to follow instructions;
2. The person started at the wrong time;
3. The person did not count as instructed (for task 1, task 2, task 3);
4. The person made an "improper touch" (for task 1, task 2, task 3);
5. The person made an improper return with their fists (for task 2);
6. The person did not return their left fist to their chest (for task 3);
7. The person did not perform the test (task 1, task 2, task 3, task 4);
8. The person did not return their fists to the instructed position (task 4).

​Below is an example of the clues that an officer noted on the Pal Pat Test in an actual Georgia BUI case:
**Instructional stage- The person did not remain in position when told, the person followed along during instructions.
**Performance stage- The person counted 5-8 but only had 3 touches, returned his right fist to chest instead of his left during task 3. This person was marked for 4 clues on the Hand Coordination Test.