Challenge Field Sobriety Tests Essex County DUI Arrest

Field Sobriety Tests in DWI Cases

With offices in Newark, New Jersey

If you were stopped on suspicion of drunk driving in the State of New Jersey, it is likely that you were asked to perform field sobriety tests. The bad news is that these tests may be admissible in court as evidence against you; however, the good news is that an experienced DWI defense attorney might be able to challenge the reliability of the tests used in your case.

The Tormey Law Firm specializes in DWI / DUI defense. We have represented countless clients charged with DWI offenses in Belleville, Millburn, and everywhere else in Essex County. Of course, the firm’s credentials and expertise in this area of law go far beyond our experience in the courtroom. The firm’s founding partner, Travis J. Tormey, is certified in the operation of the Alcotest 7110, the breath test used in all New Jersey DWI cases. Additionally, our DWI litigation team includes a former county and municipal prosecutor and an ex-NJ State Trooper who is an expert in field sobriety testing. Our expertise and resources will allow us to help you avoid the most serious DWI penalties.

Contact Us Today

Contact the Tormey Law Firm now at 201-654-3464 so that a member of our team can look over your file and start your defense.

Field Sobriety Tests in Essex County, NJ

After a police officer stops a driver for suspicion of drunk driving, the officer must determine if probable cause exists for an arrest. Probable cause can be established by:

Field sobriety testing
The officer’s observations of the driver
Admissions made by the driver

Since field sobriety tests are extremely unreliable as indicators of intoxication, NJ courts only allow three types of field sobriety tests to be used as the basis for a DWI arrest:

Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) or “pen test”: The officer tracks the driver’s eye movements after asking the driver to follow a pen with their eyes
One-Leg-Stand test: The officer looks for indicators of impairment while the driver stands on one leg and counts out loud
Walk-and-Turn test: The driver must walk along a straight line

Challenge Field Sobriety Tests New Jersey

The three most commonly administered field sobriety tests are reliable in identifying a driver with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .10 percent or higher. However, a person can be charged with Driving While Intoxicated in the State of New Jersey if they have a BAC as low as .08 percent. The margin for error here creates a very real possibility that the field sobriety test used to establish probable cause in your DWI cases was inaccurate.

Field sobriety tests are also subject to human error because their accuracy depends in large part on being administered in a prescribed and standardized manner. When a police officer deviates from standard procedure, field sobriety tests become even more unreliable. An experienced DWI defense lawyer can highlight mistakes by law enforcement and challenge the existence of probable cause in your case.

Speak with a Livingston DWI Lawyer

The knowledgeable lawyers at the Tormey Law Firm are prepared to help you beat your DWI / DUI charges. Our experts know how to challenge the results of a field sobriety test and undermine the prosecution’s strongest evidence. Call us today at 201-654-3464 to discuss your case, or fill out the online contact form to arrange a free consultation at our office in Newark.

Client Reviews

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