Los Angeles DUI Lawyer
Faults of the One Leg Stand Test
Charges of DUI in Los Angeles may come after a series of
field sobriety tests and
breath and blood tests have been conducted by law enforcement officers. If an officer has reason to believe that you have been drinking and driving then they will pull you over to have you perform some basic tests which are meant to assess your physical and mental abilities. If you are unable to satisfactorily comprehend and complete the tasks asked of you, you will be charged with DUI and you could face license suspension, fines and even jail time.
The one leg stand is a commonly used test by law enforcement officers who suspect that someone is operating a vehicle with an illegal blood alcohol content (BAC). When performing this task you will be asked to raise one foot in the air (about six inches) while remaining standing. You will simultaneously need to count aloud until asked to stop (which is usually about 30 seconds later). This test is said to have a 65% reliability rate when it comes to exposing intoxicated impairment; however, it is not among the easiest of tasks to perform and many sober individuals would be no more able to complete this than an impaired person.
Los Angeles Drunk Driving Attorney
A Los Angeles DUI lawyer understands what law enforcement officers may not: field sobriety tests such as the one leg stand and the
walk and turn are not as accurate a predictor of intoxication as police officials believe them to be. Contrary to their belief that a person's inability to easily complete these tasks is indicative of their drunkenness, we know that physical restrictions can limit a person's ability to successfully produce, especially when under the stress and pressure that felt at the time someone is pulled over.
The Law Offices of Loren M. Merlin is comprised of a team of DUI lawyers who all firmly believe that a person is innocent until proven guilty. Particularly when it comes to accusations of drinking and driving, expert defense can go a long in way in helping to prove that you are undeserving of the
penalties you stand to face should you be found guilty. We can argue on behalf of your defense, highlighting the fact that many people would be unable to do what officers demand of persons suspected of DUI. Lengthy car trips, fatigue and much more can all contribute to a person's less than stable standing or slower reflexes; to automatically assume these are the result of drunk driving is a mistake, and we will do everything in our power to make the courts see it the same way.
Contact a Los Angeles DUI lawyer to schedule your free initial consultation.