Washington Standardized Field Sobriety Tests

DUI Defense Attorneys

If a police officer suspects a person of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, many times they will request the driver to perform a field sobriety test.  Field sobriety tests were developed by law enforcement officials to help officers make roadside determinations about whether or not a driver is impaired.  As the test is performed, the police officer will evaluate the driver’s reactions and performance of the requested tasks taking note of behaviors that may indicate impairment.  If a person performs poorly during a field sobriety test, this may give the officer probable cause to make an arrest for DUI. 

The accuracy of field sobriety tests has been a widely contested issue throughout the Seattle area because many of these tests are designed to facilitate failure on the part of the test subject.  Many sober people have trouble performing field sobriety tests and as a result many attorneys believe the results of these tests should not be considered as evidence to incriminate a person of DUI.  When you choose our firm to represent you, your Seattle DUI attorney will challenge the subjective nature of field sobriety tests, the accuracy of the methods used to administer the tests, and the credibility of the officer who requested the tests be performed.  Your Seattle DUI lawyer will also address any factual or legal issues relating to the officer’s scoring and evaluation of the field sobriety tests in an effort to challenge the validity of your test results. 

Seattle Attorneys Challenging Field Sobriety Test Validity

When choosing a lawyer to represent you in the face of DUI charges, it is very important to find someone who is familiar with the various field sobriety tests so that they can effectively challenge the results. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recognizes a battery of Standardized Field Sobriety tests which consist of the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN), the Walk-and-Turn (WAT) and the One-Leg Stand (OLS).  It is important to note that although these tests are employed by law enforcement officers to determine impairment, if they are administered incorrectly the validity of the results can be challenged.  

If you are interested in challenging the validity of a field sobriety test that you were requested to perform, contact a Seattle DUI Defense Lawyer today!