Austin Jail Release Lawyer

Texas Sobriety Tests

When you are pulled over for suspected drunk driving, there will be certain sobriety tests performed to check your mobility and overall awareness of the situation. They usually perform tests like these because when you are intoxicated you tend to loose your ability to balance and keep yourself stable. You also lose your ability to understand different situations and your overall judgment becomes more impaired the higher your BAC becomes.

There are three main sobriety tests that the police use when they pull someone over for drunk driving. The first sobriety test is called the walk-and-turn test. This test has also been known as the walk the line test because it requires the person to walk a straight line without falling or tripping themselves at all. The test is where you have someone walk toe to heel on a clearly visible ground on a flat dry service. If they lose balance at all the officer will be able to judge just how impaired they have become.

The second sobriety test is the one leg stand. This is a test in which the officer will give you a specific set of instructions and then will ask you to perform exactly what he had just instructed you to do. He will ask you to stand in a specific place with your arms down by your sides and one foot raised a certain amount above the ground. Any change in balance will help the officer to evaluate how intoxicated you may be.

The third sobriety test is called the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus. Although this test has a complicated name, it is not that difficult. The officer will again give you a set of instructions and then they will instruct you when to begin doing all the tasks. The officer will ask you to stand with your feet together and look straight ahead of you. The officer will then place one finger about 15 inches from your face and ask you to only follow their finger with your eyes. Those who are intoxicated will have jerking in their eyes and will become easily distracted. The officer will again use this to determine just how intoxicated and impaired this person is.

For more information, contact the Austin Jail Release Lawyer Ian Inglis at 512-472-1950.