Field Sobriety Tests in illinois
DUI Defense in Peoria
There are a few surefire ways that a police officer can determine if a
person is operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Obvious swerving, hesitation, varying speeds and straddling a lane line
can be some of the most obvious forms of drunk driving while a vehicle
is in motion, and such behavior may prompt an officer to stop you. Once
the vehicle is stopped, an officer will ask questions regarding your sobriety
and may ask you to submit to a field sobriety test. These tests are used
as a tool for an officer to determine overall sobriety, and based off
the performance of the field test, you may be asked to adhere to a breath
or blood test.
Types of Field Sobriety Tests
Although these tests are common in determining overall sobriety, they can
still be challenged. Field sobriety tests are not foolproof and there
may be a lot of different factors that can cause an officer to assume
that a person is driving under the influence. Common mistakes that may
cause complications are described below for each of the types of field
sobriety tests:
Walk and Turn
In this test, a driver is asked to walk toe to toe in a straight line,
stop, and turn around to walk back. These tests are conducted outside
on the side of the road, so uneven pavement, weather conditions and general
clumsiness may cause an inaccurate test result.
One-Leg Stand
During a one-leg-stand test, a person will be asked to balance on one leg
for 25 to 30 seconds. They may be asked to touch their nose or hold their
arms out. An officer will look for swaying, uneven balance, and overuse
of arms to keep them balanced. In some cases, however, even sober people
have medical conditions or are incapable of balancing on one leg.
Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus
This test looks for nystagmus, or the bouncing of the eyes as they move.
Drunken individuals exhibit a jerking movement whereas sober individuals
do not. The
HGN test can be hard to determine if it is accurate, especially if the test is
being conducted on the side of a road with cars and lights or during extreme
weather conditions.
Retain an Aggressive DUI Attorney in Peoria from McCall Law Offices, P.C.
If you feel that you were wronged and wish to speak with an attorney regarding
your rights, you need to
contact McCall Law Offices, P.C. as soon as possible. Our dedicated staff can provide you with the best
possible representation and help you receive the outcome that you desire.
In the event that your rights were infringed upon, we will use the wrongs
done to you as part of a strong defense and aggressively attack the prosecuting
attorneys. You deserve to be treated as an individual, and when you work
with McCall Law Offices, P.C., you can be sure that your case will be
handled properly. Contact the firm today to schedule a
free case evaluation with a
Peoria criminal defense lawyer now!