Field Sobriety Tests
When you have been arrested in the South Bay area for DUI based on a field sobriety test, your arrest is based on the judgment of the arresting officer. He or she will observe you taking the test and will evaluate whether they believe that you are intoxicated. This test is much less scientific, because it is not based on actual measurement of alcohol in the blood system.
Three Main Types of Field Sobriety Tests
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Walk-and-Turn: You will be asked to walk a few steps in two different directions. You are ordered to walk heel to toe. The suspicious officer will look for you to be off balance or not correctly following his or her orders while the test is being administered.
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One-Leg Stand: You will be asked by the officer to stand on one leg. This will be for a required amount of time. The officer will observe you to see if it appears that you have balance problems or are have difficulty following his or her directions during the test.
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Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus: You will be ordered by the law enforcement officer to follow either a light or an object with your eyes. It is believed in this test that a shaking movement of your eyes will indicate that you are intoxicated.
Protect Your Rights with a South Bay DUI Lawyer
These tests are certainly not as accurate as a blood alcohol test and certainly less scientific. For this reason, if you have been arrested for a DUI based on a field sobriety test, you need to contact one of our knowledgeable attorneys at Gold & Witham. We can evaluate what can be done to reduce the chances of a conviction based on a field sobriety test. There are legal options that we can possibly implement to minimize your chances of jail time, fines, and license suspension.
Protect your legal rights by contacting a DUI attorney from our South Bay law firm today!
