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Escondido DUI Lawyer and California DUI Law Information

If you have been arrested in Escondido or else where in Southern California for DUI, contact a lawyer as soon as possible to help your case. Consulting with an experienced DUI lawyer will help you navigate the complexities of California DUI law and can devise a solid DUI defense to protect your rights and freedom.

• Sobriety Testing
• Field Sobriety Tests
• Questioning the Accuracy of Field Sobriety Testing
• Chemical Breathalyzer Testing
• Questioning the Accuracy of Chemical Breath Tests
• Contact a Southern California DUI Lawyer

Sobriety Testing

Police in California administer can administer a series of tests designed to detect alcohol and/or drugs in a driver’s system that are impairing his or her ability to operate a motor vehicle safely and legally.  The results of these tests are then used to determine what charges, if any, are applicable to the driver under suspicion.  Results from a number of these tests, however, can be subject to scrutiny due to the fact that their results are not always accurate and fair.  Thus, retaining the services of an attorney near Escondido or elsewhere in Southern California can help you fight the charges against you. A DUI lawyer from Steigerwalt Law Firm is a vital asset to the success of your case. Our legal team is committed to ensuring that drivers charged with DUI in California are treated fairly and their rights are protected under the law.

Field Sobriety Tests

One of the many tests administered by police officers to determine whether or not a driver is under the influence of alcohol or other substances is a series of field sobriety tests.  Commonly used field sobriety tests include alphabet recitation, asking the driver to modify or change their position of attention, as well as an eye test known as horizontal gaze nystagmus, during which the driver must follow the direction of a pen light with their eyes so that the police officer can determine when the eye begins to jerk in another direction.  Many experts argue that if the eyes jerk prior to an angle of 45 degrees, this signals a blood alcohol content of at least .05 percent.

Questioning the Accuracy of Field Sobriety Testing

Horizontal gaze nystagmus field sobriety test results that indicate guilt necessitate the help of a skilled and experienced DUI lawyer. Often there are a number of irregularities associated with this test and others.  One argument that an experienced DUI lawyer may make in defense of an individual who fails a horizontal gaze nystagmus field test is that the medical community does not endorse the test, and police officers estimate the degree to which the eyes begin to jerk, even though they have no medical training in optometry or ophthalmology. This could enable the arresting officer to misconstrue a minor, naturally occurring visual impairment as an indication of intoxication.

Chemical Breathalyzer Testing

Another more common sobriety test is the chemical breathalyzer test. Like the horizontal gaze nystagmus test, breathalyzer testing has its flaws and a knowledgeable attorney will use these weaknesses in the prosecutions case to either reduce your punishment or have your case dismissed entirely.

Questioning the Accuracy of Chemical Breath Tests

Results of a breathalyzer test can be challenged by a DUI lawyer due to the possible presence of “mouth alcohol.”  Your DUI defense lawyer may argue that the chemical breathalyzer test resulted in a false positive due to remaining alcohol trapped in a piece of gum, beneath dental work, or from burping the precedes the test by as little as thirty minutes. These factors could significantly elevate the BAC results of a chemical breathalyzer test, even if it has been several hours since the driver consumed his or her last drink.  Whether you were arrested in Escondido, San Diego or elsewhere in Southern California, a DUI lawyer may argue that the driver never exceeded the legal limit despite contrary breathalyzer results.

Contact a Southern California DUI Lawyer

Due to the inaccuracies and inconsistencies of chemical and field sobriety test results, it is imperative that you contact a DUI Lawyer. Steigerwalt Law Firm conveniently serves San Diego, Escondido, and other areas throughout Southern California. Contact a DUI lawyer, today and schedule your free consultation.

 

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Types of DUI / DWI Cases

California DUI Laws

DUI Testing

DUI Consequences in California

DUI Defenses

Frequently Asked DUI Questions

Choosing a DUI Lawyer