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Understanding Field Sobriety Tests Campbell Whitten is here to help you fight any battle!

Field Sobriety Tests in CA

Trust in DUI Attorneys Who Operate as a Team

For years, police officers have used field sobriety tests as a way to determine (or - more accurately for most cases - guess) if a driver is indeed intoxicated. While these tests are common and considered reliable by law enforcement, the truth of the matter is that the ‘evidence’ they provide is far from trustworthy. If you were arrested for DUI based on a field sobriety test or a series of tests, know that there is hope. It is possible to successfully disprove the results of a field sobriety test or discredit the notion that they prove a person is intoxicated, and get a DUI case dismissed as a result.

At Campbell Whitten, we know just how unreliable field sobriety tests really are. We utilize creative defense strategies and outside-the-box thinking to fight back on behalf of our clients. By operating as a cohesive team, our Bakersfield DUI lawyers are capable of dismantling evidence that is the basis of a prosecutor’s case. Our goal is to obtain the results you need and it starts by carefully assessing all the details of your arrest.

Disproving the Reliability of Field Sobriety Tests

While there are a number of different field sobriety tests, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration currently recommends just three, which are:

  • The horizontal gaze nystagmus test
  • The walk-and-turn test
  • The one-leg stand test

When these tests are performed, the officer is looking for clues to indicate a certain level of intoxication. Numerous studies, however, show that these are coordination tests, rather than tests of sobriety, and they are not rooted in convincing scientific evidence. Put simply, it is a myth to say that someone who fails a field sobriety test is intoxicated because the tests cannot prove this.

Our legal team will look into numerous factors that may indicate why you failed, including your medical history. We also know that in most cases, the officer’s report detailing your performance on field sobriety tests is based entirely on memory and offers no probable cause to have actually arrested you in the first place. One of the most effective ways to attack a critical piece of the prosecutor's case is to discredit the results of a field sobriety test. Why? Because they are not reliable and we are prepared to show this in the courtroom.

Our Bakersfield Firm has Handled Thousands of Cases

The outcome of your case hinges on the legwork that our firm puts in at the very beginning. We take the time to understand your unique situation and will move forward based on our findings. Having handled thousands of cases, we can confidently say that we’re comfortable in the courtroom and refuse to let unexpected circumstances weaken our aggressive tactics.

Don’t wait any longer to protect your future against a DUI conviction. Our Bakersfield DUI lawyers can begin preparing your case as soon as you call, so get in touch with us today!