If you are pulled over on suspicion of driving under the influence in Pennsylvania, you may be asked to take a field sobriety test. These tests are designed to help law enforcement officers determine whether or not they are intoxicated. If you fail a test, you may be arrested and charged with DUI. If you are convicted of a PA DUI, you may be sentenced to jail time, fines, and a driver’s license suspension.
You may also be required to attend an alcohol education program. Failing a field sobriety test does not automatically lead to a conviction. There are many factors that can influence the outcome of your case, including whether or not the officer had probable cause to pull you over and administer the test in the first place. Facing DUI charges can be daunting, but understanding the possible consequences and defenses may help ease your mind.
What Is a DUI Field Sobriety Test?
You may be asked to take a field sobriety test if the police officer suspects that you are driving under the influence. A DUI is a criminal offense in Pennsylvania, and it is important to understand your rights if you are stopped for suspicion of DUI. One of the tests that an officer may ask you to take is a test. It is a series of tasks that are designed to measure your ability to safely operate a vehicle. The activities examine your balance, coordination, and ability to split your attention between multiple tasks throughout the test. The tasks include walking in a straight line, standing on one leg, and reciting the alphabet, and you may be asked to take one or all of these tests.
When conducted by a qualified officer, the tests have been scientifically demonstrated to validate legal intoxication in drivers suspected of intoxicated driving in 90% of cases. The failed sobriety test results are admissible in court as evidence to support a DUI conviction. If you are asked to take a test, it is important to understand that you can refuse to take the test. You are not required to take the test, and you may decline without penalty. However, if you do decline, the officer may arrest you for suspicion of DUI. If you agree to take the tests and fail, you may also be arrested by the officer. If you are arrested for DUI in Pennsylvania, it is important to know that you can have the help of an attorney.
How Can You Fail a Field Sobriety Test Even if You’re Not Intoxicated?
If you believe that the only way to get arrested for a DUI is to drive while intoxicated, you are incorrect. You do not need to be impaired to fail a test. Indeed, over a third of sober individuals who take a test fail. Regrettably, if you fail the test, you will very certainly be arrested and taken into custody by the police. From there, you’re in for a protracted battle as you attempt to establish your innocence.
These are some of the reasons that you can fail a field sobriety test even if you are not intoxicated:
- Experiencing anxiety: If a police officer pulls you over and asks you to take a test, your heart rate may go up. You could feel nervous or scared about being tested by the police under these circumstances. As such, even if you are completely sober, anxiety can make it difficult for you to perform certain tasks that would otherwise be easy when you are calm.
- Enduring exhaustion: If you are tired, whether it is due to work, lack of sleep, or any other personal reasons, it will be difficult for you to focus on the instructions that an officer gives and perform well. Even if you are not intoxicated, it is possible to fail various tests during which officers ask you to divide your attention between different tasks.
- Bearing a disability: Officers are not required to make allowances for disabilities when administering a test. If you have a disability that affects your ability to balance or walk, failing a test is virtually guaranteed. Officers are not trained to recognize all disabilities and may interpret your lack of ability to complete the tests as an indication that you are intoxicated.
- Taking medications: If you are on medications that affect your ability to concentrate, balance or perform motor tasks, it is possible to fail a test. Some prescription medications can cause dizziness or a loss of coordination. If you take these types of medications, it is possible that you will fail the field sobriety test even though your medication does not impair your ability to drive safely.
- Unaware of the order: If the officer’s instructions were unclear or vague, and also if excessive noise impairs your ability to hear and comprehend the instructions, you may be unable to complete the test effectively. If you are not fully cognizant of the order or if you perform the tasks incorrectly, you may end up failing the test.
- Facing health problems: If you have a health issue that affects your ability to balance, failing the test is likely. Even though these conditions are not caused by intoxication, they can make it difficult for you to perform well on the tests. These types of conditions can reduce your coordination and balance when performing physical tasks without any indication that you are intoxicated.
Conclusion
Remember that field sobriety tests are just one piece of evidence in a DUI case. If you failed the test during your Pennsylvania DUI stop, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you were drunk. You can still be convicted even if you failed the test, so it is important to have an experienced criminal defense attorney by your side, like Justin Panighetti, when dealing with these charges.
If you need to hire an attorney for a DUI in Erie, PA, you can count on Panighetti Law. We have the knowledge and experience necessary to get your case dismissed or reduced so that it won’t affect your future. Visit our website for more information about our firm.
