Van Nuys DUI Lawyer

What Are Field Sobriety Tests?

If you or a loved one is suspected of DUI (driving under the influence), law enforcement will probably ask you to perform one or more field sobriety tests. These types of tests are used to measure a person’s physical and mental abilities, and if a person fails just one test it is possible that he or she may be charged and arrested for drunk driving.

When asked to perform a field sobriety test, you will be asked to step outside of your vehicle. The officer will then proceed with very specific instructions that must be followed precisely. The failure to follow the instructions or otherwise failing a field sobriety test alerts law enforcement that a person is most likely under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.

The following are the three standardized Field Sobriety Tests (FST’s) used by law enforcement in Van Nuys, California:

• The Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus Test
• The Walk and Turn Test
• The One Leg Stand Test

In addition to the above standardized field sobriety tests, a person may be asked to: recite the alphabet or count backwards, perform a finger to nose test, Rhomberg balance test, hand-pat test or the finger-tap test. However, these less common tests are rarely used as they may be flawed and have less of an opportunity of holding up in court.

DUI Defense Serving Encino, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, and Van Nuys

Please contact a Van Nuys DUI lawyer at the Law Offices of Loren M. Merlin immediately if you or a loved one has been charged with and arrested for driving while intoxicated. We can meet with you during a free private consultation to discuss the charges you are facing. There are many legal stances that we can take when defending your rights that could result in the dismissal of all charges.

In the state of California, a person has the legal right to refuse to perform a field sobriety test. To learn more about your legal rights, please contact a Van Nuys DUI Attorney at our firm today.