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Unreliability of Standardized Field Sobriety Testing

Unreliability of Standardized Field Sobriety Testing Field sobriety tests have an inherent potential for flaw which needs to be taken into consideration when a DUI charge is brought. If your arrest was predicated upon the results of such tests, your Sacramento criminal defense attorney will examine all aspects of their procedure and administration to determine whether the results should be brought into question.

Why Field Tests are Often Unreliable

Field tests are by their nature less objective than chemical tests. Your Sacramento criminal defense attorney may be able to challenge the test results for reasons such as:

  • The design of the scientific study which set the standard for the test was flawed.
  • The mean or average designed for the test may not be true for your circumstance.
  • The test was improperly administered.
  • The results were misevaluated.
  • There are inherent variables with subject/tester interaction and with the subject himself or herself.
  • Another reason for the test result exists, such as a medical issue with the subject.
  • Statistics used to measure one set of data may not apply to another.
  • It is not possible to determine a baseline performance for the subject himself or herself.

Ultimately, then, field tests rely on subjective issues that can produce inaccurate results. It is vital that a Sacramento criminal defense attorney point out such issues to the jury to limit the damage to your case a failed test may otherwise bring.

For Legal Assistance

If you are arrested for driving while intoxicated, it is very important that you hire an experienced and strong Sacramento criminal defense attorney who will fight for your rights. Call Param Pabla to schedule a consultation today at (916) 285-7900.

Client Reviews
★★★★★
“Mr. Pabla represented me with my DUI case. He has excellent communication skills and always kept me informed. Mr. Pabla made sure I understood the process and my rights. He eased my mind through a very stressful situation. I highly recommend Mr. Pabla.” Gurpreet
★★★★★
“I am so happy with the service that I received from Param S. Pabla. Jarrett did a great job solving my legal issue and I can’t recommend him enough! He was able to do everything quickly, painlessly, and was ALWAYS available to talk when I needed him. If I ever need help again, I will definitely use him!" Boris
★★★★★
“Param was excellent in my court case of failure to stop at a stop sign. The officer could not see clearly because he was too far away. The officer insisted he could and said he had video but could not produce it at the trial. The officer then asked if he could suspend the trial to go get the video but the judge said he should have had plenty of time to get the video ready beforehand. Needless to say, the judge ruled in my favor and dismissed the case which enraged the officer. Pabla Param’s defense and cross examination skills were excellent and paramount in having the case dismissed. Highly recommended.” T.C.
★★★★★
“My husband and I needed to update everything -family trust, will, medical stuff. Param was really patient -answering all my questions -even when I asked them twice. He wanted to be sure I understood everything we were doing. All docs were sent to us so we could go through them on our own time before anything was finalized. I also liked when we were looking at medical stuff that he had a conversation with me about what I wanted and pointed out some things I didn’t think of.” Debbie