Field Sobriety Test Lawyer in Edmonds

Challenging Field Sobriety Test Results in Edmonds, WA

The consequences of a drunk driving arrest can have a range of negative effects on your life, from a possible driver's license suspension and increases in your insurance rates, to steep fines and even time in jail. Unfortunately, many people are found guilty of drinking and driving every year based on evidence which is simply not reliable enough to support a conviction. If you were arrested based on the fact that you failed the standardized field sobriety tests, it is important to understand the potential weaknesses in these tests and how an Edmonds criminal defense attorney may be able to help you fight the case.

The field sobriety tests in use in Edmonds and across the country were issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the early 1980's, following several years of research and development, and they include:

• Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus - The officer waves a small object such as a pen or flashlight in front of the suspect's face while watching for irregularities in the motion of the eyes
• Walk-and-Turn - Suspect is directed to take several steps in a straight line followed by pivoting on one foot and returning in the opposite direction without any deviation from a straight line
• One-Leg Stand - Suspect is ordered to balance on one foot with the other held above the ground while counting out loud without wobbling or using the arms to balance

Despite the fact that none of these tests has been proven to be fully accurate, they are still used as evidence to prove a suspect's guilt in a large number of cases.

Edmonds DUI Attorney

Come to Johanson Law Group, Inc. as soon as possible if you have been arrested based on failed DUI roadside testing. With over 35 years of experience and a background as a former prosecutor, I know how to exploit common weaknesses in these tests and am ready to begin working on your case today. By using evidence such as the police car dashboard video camera footage, witness testimony and aggressive cross examination of the police officer who arrested you, it may be possible to invalidate the evidence and clear your name of the charges.

Contact an Edmonds DUI lawyer with 35 years of experience and a background as a prosecutor if you believe that errors in the field sobriety tests are the cause of your drunk driving arrest.