DUI Lawyer for Orange County, California

Overview of Field Sobriety Tests in DUI Arrests

Field sobriety tests (FSTs) are used by Orange County law enforcement as tools in determining whether to make an arrest for DUI (driving under the influence). They are not required by law, and it is perfectly legal to politely refuse to take field sobriety tests. The lawyers at Gold & Witham understand where the weaknesses in these tests lie and how to prove these faults at the DMV hearing or in the DUI court process.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) conducted an analysis of a number of field sobriety tests and found three tests to be the most accurate. These are called the standardized field sobriety tests (SFSTs):

• Walk and Turn – walk in a straight line, heel to toe, 9 steps in each direction
• Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus – follow an object or light with the eyes
• One Leg Stand – raise one foot approximately 6 to 12 inches off the ground, for 30 seconds

Although these were found to be the most accurate, at their best they are only 68%, 77% and 65% accurate in gauging DUI impairment, respectively. Approximately one out of three times, field sobriety test results are not correct, and it is the goal of an Orange County DUI lawyer to show this and therefore help a client avoid a conviction and the various DUI penalties associated with this.

DUI Defense Lawyer Serving the Orange County Area

Field sobriety tests are used to determine balance, coordination and the ability to follow directions. However, a number of issues can lead to a false failure of a field sobriety test, including: weight, physical condition, injury, fatigue, nervousness, illness, and a person’s natural difficulty in understanding and following directions.

Regardless of the specific field sobriety test or tests that a driver may have failed, an Orange County DUI attorney at Gold & Witham may be able to help. Our DUI defense attorneys understand what to look for in improperly administered field sobriety tests or an individual with a physical condition that resulted in a failed field sobriety test.

Don’t let an inaccurate, subjective test lead to your DUI arrest and conviction. Instead, contact an Orange County DUI defense lawyer at Gold & Witham today!