Pennsylvania Field Sobriety Test Defenses

There are three standardized field sobriety tests that have been approved by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA): one-leg stand test, walk-and-turn test, and horizontal gaze nystagmus. However, these tests are not always accurate. If you believe that you failed your field sobriety test through no fault of your own, it is important to contact an experienced DUI defense lawyer as soon as possible.

The walk-and-turn and one-leg stand tests are referred to as "divided attention"� tests. This means that the officer is testing your ability to follow instructions as well as your physical abilities. Unlike a breathalyzer test, field sobriety tests are not scientific, they are based on the officer's observations. If you stumble during a test due to a weak ankle or other physical condition, the officer may assume that you are under the influence of alcohol.

Similarly, the horizontal gaze nystagmus is not perfect. During this test, the officer will watch to see if your eyes jerk while following a small object with your eyes. While alcohol consumption can make this jerking more pronounced, so can a host of other physical conditions.

Pennsylvania police officers must follow NHTSA guidelines when administering standardized field sobriety tests. Before you take the test, the officer must first demonstrate how it should be performed. For example, if you are asked to take the walk-and-turn test, the officer must show you how you should take your heel-to-toe steps and how you should turn.

The officer must also make sure that the conditions are safe before you perform the test. If it is dark, or you are on a curve, or the ground is slippery and uneven, the test should not be administered.

If you have recently been arrested after failing a Pennsylvania field sobriety test, contact our DUI Defense Attorneys. We will go over the facts of your case to determine what field sobriety test defense may be used.