Field Sobriety Tests

McGregor & Ernenwein is an accomplished criminal defense law firm located in the South Bay area of California. Our experienced DUI lawyers have been representing clients who have been accused of driving under the influence or driving while intoxicated since 1987. If you have been arrested for a DUI in California, it is important that you seek legal representation from a knowledgeable DUI defense attorney that you can trust. Our drunk driving defense lawyers will implement a variety of techniques and use our expertise in DUI law to successfully represent you. Call today to discuss your case with a drunk driving defense attorney at McGregor & Ernenwein.

When a police officer pulls over a driver for suspicion of DUI, the officer will typically ask the driver to perform a field sobriety test. A field sobriety test consists of approximately three different tasks for the driver to complete. The purpose of a field sobriety test is to help the officer determine if the driver is intoxicated by assessing the suspect's response to the various tests. It is not mandatory that you perform the field sobriety test. You may respectfully decline. You will not be penalized or punished for refusing to take the test.

There are a variety of field sobriety tests used by police today:

Horizontal gaze nystagmus test - This type of test is used to see how the eyes track and move when they follow an item, such as the light from a flashlight. If a person has consumed alcohol or certain drugs, their eyes may track less smoothly than a person who has not been drinking or taking drugs or medication.

Divided attention test - This type of test is used to examine a person's ability to follow instructions while performing physical activities. The police officer looks for signs that a person is intoxicated, such as starting the test before asked, swaying, and trying to balance by holding out their arms. The "stand on one leg" test and "walk and turn test" are some examples of divided attention tests.

Field sobriety tests are not 100% accurate in determining if a person is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. It is possible for a person who is completely sober to fail a field sobriety test for numerous reasons. An experienced Torrance Drunk Driving lawyer can assist you if have failed your field sobriety test.

If you have been arrested for driving under the influence in California's South Bay, contact a Torrance Drunk Driving Defense Attorney at McGregor & Ernenwein today!