Driving under the influence is the act of driving a motor vehicle after consuming alcohol or drugs to the extent of impairing mental and motor skills. Any person with a blood alcohol content of .08% or more violates California law and will be arrested.
Palm Desert Roadside Sobriety Test Lawyers of Coachella Valley
Depending on the circumstances, you will be charged with a misdemeanor or felony crime. This means you may have a criminal record for the rest of your life.
When you are stopped
If you are pulled over because the police officer suspects you are driving under the influence, he or she will ask you to step out of your vehicle to administer field sobriety tests. This will help the office determine if you are intoxicated.
Field Sobriety Tests
These tests are completely voluntary and you have a right to refuse to take them. The tests consist of but are not limited to:
- Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus Test – Eyes follow an object from side to side without jerking
- Walk and Turn Test – Officer will determine if you can give him or her your attention
- One Leg Stand Test – Also an attention test – must stand with one foot 6 inches off ground and count without body swaying
Breathalyzer
A Breathalyzer is the most common machine used to determine the BAC. If the blood alcohol content is .08% or more, the individual is considered legally intoxicated. If the individual refuses this test, his or her license may be revoked or suspended. This test, however, is not always reliable.
Blood Test
If given a choice, choose the breath test. It is less reliable than the blood test. Blood test is given at the police station.
Driving is part of our lives; we drive to work, to school, on vacation, to the grocery store and for entertainment. A suspended license can take that all away.
If you are stopped for driving under the influence and fail one or more of the field sobriety tests, I urge you to contact our Palm Springs Roadside Sobriety Test Attorney at The Law Office of Dale Gribow. An experienced drunk-driving defense attorney will fight for you and protect your interests. Remember, the consequences for drunk driving are severe. You need someone who knows what they are doing, someone who is familiar with California law, and someone who cares.