Gainesville DUI Attorney | Bushnell & Ocala Florida Field Sobriety Test Defense Lawyer

Client was arrested for DUI involving a crash where the Client crashed into a motorcyclist who had stopped at a red light. Our Client hit the motorcycle driver at a high rate of speed causing...
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Client charged with Robbery with a Firearm, Drug Trafficking, and False Imprisonment. The Defendant hired attorney Robert Whittel immediately. The rapid reponse investigators were immediately dispatched to gather evidence related to the case and find reasonable doubt...
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Defendant was charged with Driving Under the Influence ("DUI") and the defendant refused to submit to a breathalizer. At trial, Attorney Robert Whittel successfully...
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Defendant was charged with Lewd and Lascivious Conduct on a minor child relative. An immediate and extensive investigation revealed many discrepancies in the evidence. Attorney Robert Whittel and co-counsel engaged in a long process of discovery and depositions. Based upon...
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Defendant was arrested for his second DUI in les than one year and blew into the intoxilizer above the legal limit of .08. Defense attorney Robert Whittel challenged the results of the field sobriety excercises and the results of the breath machine...
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Gainesville, Ocala and Bushnell DUI Defense Attorney

Field Sobriety Tests in Florida

Field sobriety tests are used by law enforcement to determine whether a person might be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. These tests are not entirely accurate and are often used as a means to provide probable cause to arrest a person for DUI or may be used as evidence of intoxication in some cases. Field sobriety tests help an officer determine a person's sobriety based off his or her coordination and ability to follow directions.

There are three field sobriety tests which have been tested and are sanctioned by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. These are the walk and turn, the one leg stand and the horizontal gaze nystagmus. If you have submitted to these tests and were arrested for DUI, you will need an attorney on your side who can protect your rights and challenge the validity of these tests if necessary.

At the Law Offices of Robert G. Whittel, we help defend driving under the influence charges throughout Gainesville, Bushnell and Ocala, Florida. Attorney Robert Whittel and his staff work hard to provide our clients with honest legal advice and aggressive representation that will hold up in court.

Field Sobriety Tests are Voluntary

An important thing to know regarding field sobriety tests is that they are voluntary. This means that you do not have to submit to these tests - and almost any lawyer would advise you not to partake in them. Because they are often improperly administered or inadequate instructions are given, a person may fail a test even when his or her blood alcohol level is below the legal limit.

A field sobriety test is not 100% accurate in determining a person's level of intoxication. In fact, these tests were developed to determine whether a person has a blood alcohol level of .10% or above (higher than the legal limit), and even when administered properly in perfect weather and road conditions, the highest percentage of accuracy on a test is well below perfect. They are subject to a person's innate coordination, and eyesight, body weight, physical conditions, poor weather and bad road conditions can all affect the outcome of a field sobriety test.

If you or a loved one has been arrested for DUI, contact Gainesville DUI attorney Robert G. Whittel today!