Standardized Field Sobriety Tests Attorney
Field Sobriety Testing
When you are pulled over for suspected DWI, the officer will typically administer field sobriety tests to determine your level of intoxication before performing breath and blood tests. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has developed three standardized field sobriety tests:
- Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN): Officers are looking for nystagmus – the involuntary jerking of the eyes when moving side-to-side. Nystagmus is usually exaggerated after a person consumes alcohol. This test involves standing with your feet together and hands at your side. An officer will ask you to follow and object with your gaze without moving your head.
- The Walk and Turn: Officers are trying to determine how well you can listen to & follow instructions as well as how coordinated you are. This test involves walking toe-to-heel for nine paces, turning, and walking toe-to-heel for another nine paces with your hands at your side.
- One-Leg Stand: Officers are testing your coordination. This test involves lifting one leg straight ahead six inches with your arms at your side.
Don’t face DWI charges alone. Call the Law Office of Jesse Hernandez at 210-807-8656 today.
Are Field Sobriety Tests Always Effective?
While field sobriety tests are helpful for determining when drivers are intoxicated, they sometimes implicate innocent drivers. This is because there are many external factors – other than intoxication – that can dramatically affect a driver’s ability to perform these tests. Some of those factors include:
- Unclear or incorrect instructions from the officer
- Anxiety or fatigue affecting the driver
- Dark or loud testing environments
- Age or poor health of the driver
- Improper footwear or clothing
- Uneven surfaces
Enlist Hard-Hitting Defense to Fight Your DWI Charge
The influence of alcohol or other intoxicants is not always the cause for a failed field sobriety test. If you were arrested for DWI and you believe there were external factors impacting your ability to perform these tests, our San Antonio DWI attorney may be able to have the results of these tests thrown out.
Contact the Law Office of Jesse Hernandez today for a free consultation!
