Tampa DUI Lawyer
Tampa DUI Attorney News Attorney Bios DUI Defense Practice Areas Frequently Asked DUI Questions Contact our Firm Case Results
Connect to our office instantly Watch our informational videos Free Case Evaluation
DUI Defense Information
Visit Our Blog
Contact Us
3210 W. Cypress Street, Tampa, Florida 33607

Field Sobriety Tests and DUI Defense in Tampa

Information about Field Sobriety Tests

One of the standard methods a law enforcement officer uses to determine if a motorist is driving under the influence is a field sobriety test. This test is actually comprised of several small tests, and while these can vary from state to state, or county to county, there are three such tests that are considered "standard" to all geographic locations. They include:

  • The HGN (Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus) - Nystagmus refers to an involuntary jerking motion in the eyes. This test involves an officer having the individual follow a pen or other similar object with their eyes to see if they can follow the object smoothly, or if their eyes jerk due to being intoxicated.
  • One-Legged Stand - An officer has the individual stand on one leg for a certain period of time to see if their balance has been affected by alcohol.
  • Walk-and-turn - The officer has the individual walk nine steps in a heel-to-toe fashion, turn around, and walk back in the same way. The individual's balance, or lack of it, can be determined in this way.

As the above tests obviously demonstrate, a great deal of subjectivity and opinion can enter in on the law enforcement officer's part as to the results. Additionally, there is a lot of room for administering these tests in an improper fashion. If you have been charged with a DUI due to a field sobriety test, then you should contact a Tampa DUI defense attorney who can examine the results of your test for inaccuracies, mistakes, or errors.

Field Sobriety Test Lawyer in Tampa

As the possibility for subjectivity is so strong in field sobriety testing, there is a good chance that the results of your test could be inadmissible as evidence in your case. The punishments for DUI can be very severe, and the outcome of your case should be based on facts, not on guesswork. The experienced attorneys at Taracks Gomez & Rickman can help you in your DUI case by reviewing the results of your field sobriety test, and using any discrepancies or mistakes found to possibly get the charges against you lessened, or dropped entirely.

If you have been charged with a DUI due to the results of a field sobriety test, then contact a Tampa DUI defense lawyer right away to discuss your case.