Field Sobriety Testing in Oxnard and Camarillo

Oxnard DUI Lawyer

If you are stopped for DUI, the police officer is likely to conduct field sobriety tests to check whether your driving ability is impaired due to alcohol or drugs.  These are mostly agility tests.  Based on your performance, the police officer will arrest you or not.  At trial the prosecutor often calls the police officer to testify about your performance to support the DUI charge.  These tests must be conducted properly.  It is vital to be represented by a seasoned DUI defense attorney who can spot violations of procedure and challenge the test results.  You are urged to contact a Camarillo/Oxnard DUI lawyer for experienced representation.

DUI Attorney Serving Oxnard and Camarillo

At Floyd, Skeren & Kelly, LLP we provide zealous defense of clients charged with DUI in the Oxnard and Camarillo area.  The lawyers of our Criminal Defense Department know by heart the procedures for field sobriety tests.  Where violations occur we move to suppress the test results.  This often results in dismissal of cases. 

Field Sobriety Tests Used in Oxnard and Camarillo

The most common field sobriety tests are as follows:

• Horizontal and Vertical Gaze:  The officer holds an object 12-15 inches from your eyes and moves it back and forth.  The officer watches your eyeballs for any jerks or inability to track the object.
• Walk and Turn: The officer asks you to take nine heel-to-toe steps along a line and then to turn around and come back. The officer observes to see if you follow instructions, do the exercise properly and keep your balance.
• One Leg Stand:  You are asked to keep your feet and arms together and raise one foot off the ground six inches while counting.

There are many other tests including closing your eyes and putting a finger to your nose and saying the alphabet backwards.  There is also a Preliminary Alcohol Screening test which is a breath test conducted in the field often followed by another breath test at the station. 

These tests must all be done by the book.  Where violations occur we move to throw out the results.  The injustice is that these tests are unreliable even if conducted properly. In court our attorneys show evidence of other explanations for poor performance including fatigue, poor physical condition and sickness. We urge you to contact the firm for a free consultation to discuss your case.

Contact an Oxnard DUI Lawyer at the firm to contest your DUI and Field Sobriety Test results.