Field Sobriety Tests in Murfreesboro
Types of Field Sobriety Tests
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has listed three tests that are to be administered by law enforcement in order to help in determining if a person is impaired by drugs or alcohol while behind the wheel. These tests also help in establishing probable cause for arrest. If you have been arrested for DUI after being given a field sobriety test, contact a Murfreesboro DUI lawyer who may be able to effectively challenge the test results and have your charges dropped.
The three primary field sobriety tests include:
- The Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) - This test measures the involuntary jerking of the eye that occurs naturally when a person looks to the side. An officer will have a subject follow an object with their eyes as the officer moves the object from side to side. The officer then measures the point at which the subject's eyes start to jerk, which is theoretically at an earlier point when a person is intoxicated.
- The Walk-and-Turn (WAT) - This test measures "divided attention," and helps the officer determine if the subject can perform simple movements while following directions. The subject must walk nine steps, heel-to-toe, then turn around and walk back in the same fashion. The officer will look for indicators of impairment during this walk, such as:
- Lack of balance
- Inability to walk heel-to-toe
- Stepping off of the line
- Incorrect number of steps
- Improper turn
- One-Legged Stand (OLS) - This is another "divided attention" test, and it involves an officer asking the subject to stand on one foot and count out loud until they are asked to put their foot back down. Indicators of impairment in this test include:
- Swaying
- Using arms to provide balance
- Hopping to aid in balance
- Putting one's foot down
DUI Lawyer in Murfreesboro
Attorney Thomas Parkerson formerly served as an Assistant District Attorney General in Rutherford County, and understands all facets of DUI law in our state. He also understands that field sobriety tests are extremely subjective, and prone to incorrect evaluation of results by law enforcement officers. If you have been arrested for DUI as a result of a field sobriety test, Mr. Parkerson can provide you with legal defense that will seek an exoneration in your case.
Contact a Murfreesboro DUI attorney if you have been arrested after being accused of failing a field sobriety test by a law enforcement officer.