Field Sobriety Tests and DUI in Napa County

Napa DUI Defense Attorney

Field sobriety testing is intimately associated with DUI offenses in Napa County, California. When a driver is pulled over for suspected drunk driving, the law enforcement officer will most likely ask the driver to step out of the vehicle and perform specific tests to gauge balance, coordination and an ability to follow instructions. These factors are meant indicate whether a driver's natural abilities are impaired due to alcohol and/or a controlled substance. However, field sobriety tests have their faults. Even if you were pulled over for DUI and failed field sobriety testing, an attorney may still be able to effectively defend you against a conviction.

Challenging Field Sobriety Tests

There are three tests labeled as Standardized Field Sobriety Tests by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that will most likely be administered in the event of a Napa DUI arrest. These include the walk and turn test, one leg stand and horizontal gaze nystagmus. The driver will be required to walk in a straight line, heel to toe, stand on one leg, or follow an object with his or her eyes. The problem with these test and other field sobriety tests is that a driver may fail even when he or she is entirely sober. For example, age and weight may affect a driver's ability to walk in a straight line or stand on one leg. Even the shoes a driver is wearing or the condition of the pavement may affect a driver's performance. Additional factors to consider may include: nervousness, illness, or weariness.

Contact a Napa County DUI Lawyer

If you were arrested for DUI and failed field sobriety tests, contact Napa County DUI lawyer Jeffrey E. Hammond today. With his experience and knowledge to build a compelling defense on your behalf, Attorney Hammond may be able to successfully challenge field sobriety test results. Our law firm represents clients facing DUI and multiple DUI charges throughout Sonoma County, Napa County and Solano County, California.

Contact Napa DUI defense attorney Jeffrey Hammond today.