The Role of Field Sobriety Tests in DUI/DWI Cases
Before arresting you with DUI/DWI, the cops have to administer a series of field sobriety tests. You had to do a bunch of tricks, such as walking heel-to-toe in a straight line and touching your nose. Based on your results, they decide to arrest you for drunk driving.
Did The Cops Administer These Tests Correctly?
How can you tell whether or not the police handled the field sobriety tests correctly? You may not be able to, but the experienced attorneys at the Ayres Law Firm in Salt Lake City, Utah, can.
For a free consultation about DWI/DUI defense, call us today at (801) 255-5555 or send us an e-mail.
Why Field Sobriety Tests Are Performed Incorrectly
At first, field sobriety tests seem fairly simple. How can a police officer possibly make a mistake when asking a driver to walk heel-to-toe in a straight line?
A closer look reveals that there are countless errors a cop could make. For example, a cop could ask a driver to walk over deep potholes, over ice or over another obstacle that is not taken into consideration.
When you add into the equation the fact that the arresting officer may have been trained on field sobriety testing over a decade ago and rarely administers them, you have a recipe for mistakes.
Investigating Field Sobriety Tests
How can a DUI/DWI defense lawyer possibly prove that the tests were handled incorrectly? Isn't it the cop's word against the driver's?
There's much more to it than that.
First of all, many police cars are now equipped with cameras that tape the performance of field sobriety tests. Furthermore, police are required to carefully document the incident. Reviewing these two critical pieces of evidence is often sufficient to find errors in how the tests were handled. Errors that can help us meet our goal of providing a positive outcome at a competitive rate.
Free Consultation - Contact Us Today
If you have been charged with drunk driving, contact a defense attorney as soon as possible.
Call today at (801) 255-5555 or send us an e-mail.
