The Role of Field Sobriety Tests in Your DUI Case
Driving under the influence (DUI) is a crime that Arizona lawmakers take very seriously. If you are convicted of this offense, you could face serious consequences, including mandatory jail time. One tool that law enforcement may use to determine if a driver is impaired is a field sobriety test. However, when challenged, these tests may not hold up in court. Make sure to speak with an Arizona traffic ticket lawyer for legal guidance.
What Is a Field Sobriety Test?
The two main types of tests used to determine whether a driver is intoxicated or impaired during a traffic stop are chemical tests and field sobriety tests. Chemical tests can describe breath, blood or urine testing for drugs or alcohol in the driver’s body. Field sobriety tests are a series of exercises administered by police officers during DUI assessment.
The purposes of a field sobriety test are to determine whether the driver can follow directions, to assess the driver’s physical and mental state, to find out if the driver is impaired to the extent that it affects driving ability, and to collect evidence to support a subsequent DUI case. Examples of field sobriety tests include the horizontal gaze nystagmus, walk-and-turn, and one-leg stand test.
Are You Legally Required to Take a Field Sobriety Test?
No, you are not required to take a field sobriety test by law in Arizona. Unlike a breathalyzer test, which is required under Arizona’s implied consent law, a field sobriety test is an optional exercise that you have the right to decline during a traffic stop or police DUI investigation.
Attorneys generally recommend that their clients do not agree to participate in field sobriety tests, as the results of these tests can be inaccurate and subjective. Taking a field sobriety test may have adverse legal implications, such as poor performance that results in a DUI arrest.
Do Field Sobriety Tests Hold Up in Court?
The answer to this question depends on the case and particular circumstances. However, field sobriety tests are generally known for being inaccurate and unreliable, making them weak evidence of drunk driving, at best. In many cases, a DUI defense attorney in Arizona can have field sobriety test evidence ruled as inadmissible during a court case, meaning the prosecution cannot rely on this type of test for evidence of driver impairment.
Field sobriety tests are viewed as unreliable for many reasons. There may be issues in how the test was administered by a police officer, such as a deviation from the correct standards or protocols. There may also be external factors at play, such as medical or environmental conditions that affected the driver’s performance on the test. These defenses can be used to argue the reliability and accuracy of field sobriety test results during a DUI case.
Contact a DUI Defense Attorney in Arizona for Legal Assistance
If you get pulled over and an officer questions you about possible drug or alcohol impairment, remain polite and cooperative, but do not answer any questions about your sobriety. If you are asked to take a field sobriety test, politely decline. While you also have the right to refuse a chemical test, doing so will have consequences, including the suspension of your driver’s license for up to one year.
If you are charged with driving under the influence and your case involves a field sobriety test, consult with a criminal defense lawyer in Arizona for legal advice and assistance. Your attorney may be able to argue against the accuracy of this type of test to undermine the prosecutor’s case against you. An experienced DUI defense lawyer can come up with strong legal defenses to protect you from this charge as much as possible.
For more information about the role a field sobriety test might play in your DUI case, contact the Corso Law Group for a free consultation.
