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Field sobriety tests administered at a traffic stop

On Behalf of | Aug 17, 2018 | Drunk Driving |

Traffic stops are administered all over the state of Georgia for various reasons. Officers are always on the lookout for speeding, distracted driving, weaving, tailgating and impaired driving. If you are stopped for suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI), or you come across a DUI checkpoint, the following field sobriety tests will be put to use by the officer to determine if you are inebriated.

The walk-and-turn is used to determine if you can follow directions and keep your balance. You will be asked to walk along an imaginary straight line by placing one foot directly in front of the other. You will then be asked to turn after 10 steps on the line and return to your starting point.

The one-leg stand is also used to determine your balance. Balance tends to disappear when you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, which is why these tests are administered in the first place. The officer will ask you to stand on one leg for a short period to see if you have trouble staying upright.

Another test used is the eye test, which has a technical name of horizontal gaze nystagmus. The officer will ask you to follow his pen, flashlight or finger using only your eyes and not your entire head.

An officer might also ask you to recite the alphabet in reverse without singing the song. Skipping letters, reciting in from the beginning or singing the song could all be signs that you are impaired.

DUI is a serious crime in Cumming. You will want to begin mounting a defense to the charges immediately. There are ways to evaluate if the field sobriety tests were performed correctly or determine if the officer even had probable cause to initiate a traffic stop.

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