Operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol isn’t something people typically plan to do, but OUI arrests happen in Massachusetts every day. Knowing what to expect when asked to submit to a Roadside Sobriety test can help you successfully navigate a police stop. Here’s what you should know and how to get legal help if you were arrested for intoxicated driving.
Which Tests Can Be Rehearsed?
There are two standard field Sobriety tests that you can practice at home: the one-leg-stand test and the walk-and-turn test. The one-leg-stand test requires you to stand on one leg and maintain your balance. Usually, you will be required to hold your other foot out in front of you about 12 inches off the ground. During this test, you must be able to keep your balance without putting your other foot down on the ground.
The walk-and-turn test requires you to walk several steps heel-to-toe in a straight line and pivot 180 degrees to walk the exact same number of steps heel-to-toe again back the way you came. You must be able to follow instructions, maintain your balance, and remember the number of steps you are asked to take.
Tests That Can’t Be Rehearsed In Advance
A third standard roadside sobriety test is one that cannot be rehearsed or practiced. This is called the horizontal gaze nystagmus test, and this evaluation looks for involuntary movements of your eyes that can occur when you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. You cannot stop your eyes from moving in this way, but there are many conditions besides intoxication that can cause nystagmus.
Can I Refuse a Roadside Sobriety Test?
Implied consent laws state that you must submit to a breathalyzer test if requested by a police officer. This is not true for roadside sobriety evaluations and you can decline to submit to them. This is usually in your best interest, since failure is common for people performing these tests, even when they are sober.
How a Massachusetts OUI Lawyer Can Help After a Drunk Driving Arrest
Contact a Massachusetts OUI attorney today to get legal help after a Drunk Driving Arrest. Your future, your career, and your relationships rely on the quality of your legal representation now. Contact Thomas Kokonowsky today by dialing 413-585-9200 (Northampton), 413-549-0022 (Amherst), or 413-737-9700 (Springfield).
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