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Police officers suspecting you of drinking may ask you to perform field sobriety tests as part of their investigation into possible DUI offenses. While you have every right to refuse, these exams may be used against you and could have serious repercussions if caught engaging in them. If arrested for suspected DUI and subjected to field sobriety tests, contact an Alpharetta DUI lawyer as soon as possible for guidance and representation.
These evaluations involve performing a series of tasks while standing at the side of the road while officers assess your physical ability to remain balanced and coordinated. Although these tests are designed to determine how much alcohol you possess in your system, their results may be affected by other variables like age, health conditions and environmental variables; even if you’re entirely sober these tests can give false indications of impairment.
Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN), Walk and Turn Test and One Leg Stand Test are some of the most widely administered field sobriety tests. An officer will observe for any involuntary eye jerking movements to evaluate your brain impairment; during a Walk and Turn Test you are asked to make nine heel-to-toe steps along a straight line and then reverse course; finally in One Leg Stand Test you must balance on one foot for 30 seconds without tipping over; these tests can be especially challenging when faced with police presence and being recorded on camera by officers!
Unfortunately, these tests are often unreliable and misinterpreted, making it important for an experienced attorney to review your evidence to see if there were any irregularities in how they were administered or scored.
Weather and roadway conditions, environmental distractions, parking the vehicle in an uneven area or taking certain medications or medical conditions into consideration can all have an effect on one’s performance on a field sobriety test. Furthermore, it should take place in an ideal testing environment without risk to either participant and sufficient lighting is available for proper execution of this test.
Defense attorneys can demonstrate flaws in the administration of a field sobriety test and claim it did not follow proper protocols. An Alpharetta DUI attorney who understands these tests well knows how to identify errors that might lead to inaccurate or biased results from these exams.
If you have been arrested for DUI in Georgia, an Alpharetta DUI attorney can be invaluable in fighting your case. Contact us to arrange a free consultation and case evaluation with one of our experienced Alpharetta DUI lawyers now. With extensive training in field sobriety testing, we are experts at analyzing whether or not an officer followed proper procedures when administering it – which could result in charges being dropped and evidence being protected in your case.
