DWI: The Basics of Field Sobriety Testing and The Rules of Evidence

“Walk the line.” Everyone knows that when people hear those words, they’re being tested to see if they’re drunk. DUI defense lawyers often hear clients say, “I couldn’t do that if I was sober!” Although lawyers hope that they didn’t phrase it in quite those terms to the arresting officer, the point is well-taken. The now ubiquitous standardized field sobriety tests are unscientific, unfair, and misunderstood. However, if they are unchallenged, they have tremendous persuasive effect on the court and the jury.