When a police officer suspects you of drinking and driving, they may ask you to take field sobriety tests. These are tasks that you will have to perform when you step outside of your motor vehicle. In some of the most common types of field sobriety tests, an officer will have you:
- Count backwards
- Close your eyes, and touch your finger to your nose
- Walk a straight line with your arms extended
If you lose your balance, or show signs of impairment, then an officer will probably charge you with a Florida DUI. However, you may refuse to take field sobriety tests.
If you refuse to take these tests, you will most likely still be arrested and charged with a Florida DUI based on the officer’s other observations of your driving behavior or demeanor. If you are too nervous to take the test, or if you assume you are going to fail, then it may be better to be arrested, and fight the case in court.
By not taking the field sobriety tests, you will prevent the state from gathering any incriminating evidence against you. This may also help your DUI attorney in building your Florida DUI defense. Without an officer’s testimony about field sobriety tests, and the video that would have been recorded from the front of the officer’s car, your attorney will have less evidence against you to refute in court.
If you have been pulled over under the suspicion of a Florida DUI, you may want to know the implications of taking a field sobriety test. To learn more about Field Sobriety Tests (FSTs), please visit our article library.
Contacting a Florida DUI Defense Attorney
If you are facing DUI charges in South Florida, your legal team is your best defense. Contact the Miami DUI defense attorneys at Falk & Ross to discuss your case – (877) 663-5110.