Knoxville, Tennessee Field Sobriety Test Attorney

Skilled Lawyer Defending Clients in Knoxville, TN Field Sobriety Tests

Field sobriety tests are typically administered by police officers who need probable cause to arrest someone for a DUI. These tests are later offered as proof that the defendant was intoxicated when he or she was pulled over. However, field sobriety tests are far from scientific. There are far too many variables involved for a field sobriety test to be considered a scientific tool. In some cases, a skilled lawyer can argue that a failed field sobriety test did not constitute probable cause for an arrest and should not be used against you in court.

The Baker Law Firm provides legal representation for people who have been charged with DUI, BUI, and related offenses. Attorney Lance K. Baker has over a decade of experience representing clients in cases involving intoxicated driving. Our team can provide the legal help needed to address these charges successfully.

The Problems With Field Sobriety Tests

As any student could tell you, tests are only fair when everyone takes them under the same conditions and accommodations are made for people who have medical conditions that make testing harder. There would be an uproar if one group of students got to take their final exams in a quiet and familiar classroom, while the other group had to take the same test on the basketball court in the rain during practice.

For field sobriety tests to be fair and to produce accurate and reliable results, everyone would have to take the tests under uniform conditions. If police always administered these tests indoors on a flat surface and gave suspects the chance to change into sneakers, it would be much harder for lawyers to argue that the test results were influenced by external factors that have nothing to do with sobriety or intoxication.

However, these test are performed on the side of the road wherever a person is pulled over, wearing whatever shoes they happened to be wearing, and in whatever weather conditions they happened to be driving through. It does not take a law school education to understand why someone who was driving through the mountains in the rain wearing high heels is much more likely to have "failed" to walk a straight line or balance on one foot than someone who was pulled over in a flat parking lot on a sunny day wearing athletic shoes, regardless of how sober either party was.

People who were pulled over on a crowded street lined with bars might also have the notable disadvantage of being distracted and discouraged by drunk passersby, who are prone to jeering, filming, and otherwise rendering the situation more stressful.

Then, there is the issue of physical and mental health. A large number of conditions can make it harder for someone to pass these one-size-fits-all tests. If you have had knee replacements, are a person of size, or are older, you might struggle to balance on one leg in any conditions. If you have a neurological disorder or an issue with your inner ears, walking a straight line can be impossible. Deaf and hard-of-hearing drivers might struggle to follow verbal instructions.

People with certain mental illnesses, like panic disorder, autism spectrum disorders, or PTSD might experience an uncontrollable "freeze" response and be marked down as having refused testing. These people may be too overwhelmed to listen to and follow detailed instructions, resulting in a failing score.

While the chemical tests performed after DUI arrests are slightly more scientific, they are not perfect either. A skilled attorney can challenge test results when defending against DUI charges.

Contact a Knoxville, Tennessee Field Sobriety Test Lawyer

The Baker Law Firm can work to prove that your field sobriety test was unfair and should not be used as evidence against you. If you need to defend against DUI charges, contact us at 865-200-4117 for a free consultation.