An Overview of the Standard Field Sobriety Tests

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has developed three standardized field sobriety tests designed to indicate impaired driving. However, the results of these tests do not lead to an automatic DUI conviction. This is precisely why it is so important to hire a Michigan DUI lawyer to challenge and beat the test results – there is always a chance to avoid a DUI conviction.

Below is an overview of the three standardized field sobriety tests and what a good lawyer needs to look for to suppress or challenge the results during a DUI trial.

Coordination Tests

The two standard coordination field sobriety tests include the one-leg-stand and the walk straight line test. These are very sensitive tests that must be administered under specific circumstance in order for the results to be reliable.  In order to determine whether these two tests produced reliable results, a Michigan DUI lawyer will need to examine both the conditions under which the test was administered and the defendant’s own physical coordination. These coordination tests are difficult for even a sober person to pass, let alone a person who has consumed some alcohol.

Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus Test

The horizontal gaze nystagmus test is one where the officer moves an object (like a pen) back and forth in front of somebody, watching how their eyes track the object. In determining whether a horizontal gaze nystagmus field sobriety tests was properly administered, the defendant must first be evaluated for naturally occurring nystagmus – in other words, if your eyesight is less than perfect, the test results may be contested. The Michigan DUI lawyer will generally test for this during the initial interview in his office. This will provide a baseline to determine if the officer properly administered the test and whether the results should be prevented at trial.

Contact Us

For more information about the specific field sobriety test that led to your DUI arrest and the methods of challenging the results, contact the Law Offices of Christopher Trainor & Associates at 800-961-8477 to schedule a consultation with a Michigan DUI lawyer. The first consultation is always free, and the sooner you receive qualified legal advice, the better-prepared you will be for your DUI trial.