Driving Under the Influence (DUI)

Field Sobriety Tests, which are often referred to as FSTs by San Diego police and San Diego criminal defense lawyers, are multiple simple exercises designed to assess a person’s capability to operate an automobile.  The most common of the FSTs are the following three:  the walk-and-turn test, the one-leg-stand, and the horizontal gaze nystagmus test (following an object with your eyes.)  They are designed to evaluate a person’s balance, coordination, and capacity to do two things at once.  There are numerous FSTs used by San Diego, California law enforcement but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has deemed many of these unreliable.  The accuracy of these tests has often been challenged by scientific studies.

It is important for you to understand that these tests are often difficult for even a sober person to pass since the “passing” assessment is done by the officer and can be very subjective.  If you or a loved one is suspected of Driving Under the Influence (DUI), know that you are not legally required to participate in field sobriety tests.  You can legally refuse to do them.  In order for the FSTs to be admissible in court, they must be done voluntarily.  You should never participate in any of these tests without consulting an experienced San Diego DUI lawyer for advice.  The San Diego DUI lawyers have a tremendous amount of experience representing people accused of DUI.  If you did perform Field Sobriety Tests, our San Diego DUI lawyers can help you determine how your performance will affect your criminal DUI case in San Diego.

If you or someone you love is facing San Diego DUI charges, please contact Wallin & Klarich today via phone at 1-877-230-1529 or fill out our consultation form for a free evaluation of your San Diego County criminal case.