Savannah Field Sobriety Tests Lawyers

Fighting to Uphold Your Rights & Protect Your Driving Privileges

On account of all the tragedies related to driving under the influence, the government has tried to crack down much harder on cases where drivers are suspected of being intoxicated. The trouble is that sometimes mistakes are made when law enforcement officials become too eager to catch someone for driving under the influence. Whether due to officer error or due to improper field sobriety testing, you could become a victim of a DUI charge for something that is not your fault.

In the case that you have gone through standard field sobriety testing, but you have a disability, or a medical or personal need, it is extremely common to “fail” the test for no fault of your own. This is why you must reach out to The Lerch Law Firm, so our field sobriety test attorneys in Savannah can defend you.

Call us today at (912) 417-5008 for superb support from our reliable criminal defense lawyers.

CanYou Refuse to Take a Roadside Test?

Not many drivers in the state of Georgia know that it is completely legal to refuse to undergo roadside testing. Also known as field sobriety tests, these tests include walking in a straight line, standing on one leg, or testing your eyes for nystagmus. The problem is that there are many cases where our clients are unable to pass these types of tests for health reasons or personal disabilities.

However, because officers do not tell them that these tests are completely voluntary, drivers feel compelled to take the test, even if doing so will ultimately lead to their arrest. Officers are technically not required to volunteer this information, but if you ask, they should legally tell you the truth. Sadly, this does not always occur. When either of these unfortunate scenarios happens to you, it is crucial to get in touch with us right away.

What are the Types of Field Sobriety Tests?

The primary way of testing a person’s intoxication level, or the level of impairment cause by drugs and/or alcohol in their system, is through Standard Field Sobriety Tests (SFST), which were created by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). These tests are usually conducted right on the side of the road, immediately after an individual has been stopped.

Some of the most common types of field sobriety tests include:

• Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN), meaning the ability to follow an object with one’s eyes
• One-leg-stand
• Walk-and-turn
• Preliminary Breath Test (PBT)
• Romberg Test (counting to 30 with head back and eyes closed)
• Lack of Convergence Test

Fighting Injustice

The problem with many of the above tests is they can be unfair for those who are physically or mentally impaired or recovering from a medical issue. Other conditions, such as emotional trauma, or even wearing high heeled shoes, could also impact one’s ability to physically perform the tests. The Lerch Law Firm is determined to protect you when you have been unjustly accused based on an unfair test.

Contact us now at (912) 417-5008 so that our Savannah field sobriety test lawyers can offer you the defense you need.