Field Sobriety Tests
Police officers in Utah have a right to ask drivers to take a field sobriety test if they have reason to believe that a driver is impaired. These tests are used by law enforcement to determine if a person is impaired. Although the police have the right to ask you to take a field sobriety test, you have no legal obligation to submit to a field sobriety test.
There are a number of FSTs employed by law enforcement agencies. Among the most common is the horizontal gaze nystagmus test, in which the suspected drunk driver is asked to follow an object with his or her eyes. Other tests approved by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration include the one leg stand and the nine-step walk and turn.
If you choose to take the FST, it will likely be taped by a video camera in the police officer's vehicle and used as evidence against you at trial if you are charged with a DUI.
Knowing your rights is the first step to protecting your rights. If you have been arrested for drunk driving and need to know more about your legal rights, contact an experienced criminal defense attorney at the law firm of Catherine R. Cleveland.
Our law firm defends people facing any type of drunk driving charges, including:
- DUI
- DUI metabolite
- Fleeing a police officer
- Hit and run
If retained to handle your case, we will provide a vigorous defense on your behalf.
Contact a Salt Lake City Criminal Defense Lawyer
If you have been charged with DUI, DUI metabolite or another serious traffic crime, contact the law firm of Catherine R. Cleveland in Salt Lake City, Utah. To schedule an appointment, call 801.456.2211, or contact the firm by e-mail.
