Field sobriety testing is a part of the DWI process. If a traffic officer suspects that you have been drinking and driving, he or she reserves the right to ask you to submit to field sobriety testing. When you perform these tests, you may say the alphabet backwards, touch your nose from an outstretched arm and finger, walk a straight line, or stand on one foot.
Unfortunately, field sobriety testing is open to interpretation. This means that there are times when a person may be charged with DWI when they shouldn’t have been. Other times, a rights violation may occur that will render the arrest invalid. There are many reasons why DWI arrests may be invalid and your Minneapolis DWI attorney can find those reasons so that you can obtain the best possible outcome in your case.
Challenging The Reliability Of field Sobriety Tests
How reliable field sobriety tests are depends on a number of factors. For instance, a person can have a disability that keeps them from performing well on the tests. The disability may make it appear as if a person is drunk when they’re not. This can be very confusing for an individual accused of DWI. However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that the tests are reliable in determining whether or not a person is impaired and, many times, the results are admissible in court as evidence of impairment due to drugs or alcohol.
But based on a Minneapolis and St. Paul DWI attorney’s, the tests are usually flawed, which means that they are not always viewed as a good predictor of whether or not a driver is truly driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. In addition, police officers do not always follow the exact instructions as to how each test needs to be carried out. The test is not useful for evaluating whether or not a person is impaired.
Defending Your Rights
If you have been charged with DWI, it is your right to fight the charges. You can challenge the arrest from any questions that the officer may have asked you to the nature of the field sobriety tests. It is important to tell your attorney everything about the arrest so that it can be thoroughly investigated. Just because you have been accused of DWI doesn’t mean you have to take the charges and await conviction. It is possible to have the charges reduced or avoid conviction completely so that you can move on with a productive life.
Contact A Minneapolis DWI Lawyer
DWI field sobriety testing is a step that is taken during a traffic stop where DWI is suspected. The officer asks for certain tasks to be completed on the side of the road so they can assess whether or not an individual is intoxicated. If you are faced with field sobriety testing or you have another issue related to field sobriety testing, contact the Anderson Law Firm, PLLC at 952-582-2904 for a free consultation.
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this article does not constitute an attorney-client relationship. Please contact attorney Kirk Anderson for an initial consultation.