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Protecting Your Rights And Freedom

Clayton DWI/DUI Field Sobriety Test Defense Lawyer

If you are facing an arrest for driving while impaired (DWI) because of a failed field sobriety test, you need an experienced legal advocate who will fight for your rights. My name is Carl J. Civella, a DWI defense attorney for Clayton residents. I am familiar with field sobriety tests and will find loopholes in these procedures to create a solid defense strategy.

You can rely on my firm, The Civella Law Firm, to challenge field sobriety tests. I am ready to leverage my experience as a prosecutor to stand for you in court.

What Are DWI Field Sobriety Tests In Clayton?

Field sobriety tests in Clayton, Missouri, are a series of physical and mental activities provided by law enforcement officers to check whether you are under the influence of alcohol. Officers can enforce this test when they have reasonable suspicion due to your erratic driving behavior.

Under Missouri law, participating in a field sobriety test is voluntary. You will not receive an administrative penalty or criminal consequence for refusing it.

Examples Of DUI Field Sobriety Tests In Missouri

The municipal courts in St. Charles County that are heavy DWI arrest areas are: City of St. Peters, City of O’Fallon and the City of St. Charles. During a traffic stop, officers can ask you to perform these standardized field sobriety tests:

  • Walk-and-turn test: Taking nine heel-to-toe steps forward within a line, a turn and another round of nine steps back
  • One-leg-stand test: Standing with one foot on the ground while counting out loud for 30 seconds
  • Horizontal gaze nystagmus test: Following a pen or light that an officer is holding with your eyes and head still

Officers use these tests to look for physical and mental signs of impairment, building a probable cause for a formal DWI arrest. These can include losing balance while listening to instructions, swaying while balancing and jerking eye movements.

Various Factors That Can Affect Your Performance

While field sobriety tests help spot signs of driver impairment, a poor performance does not always prove intoxication. These tests can be inaccurate because of several factors:

  • Road conditions: Cracks, slopes and uneven pavement affect walking on a straight line and balancing on one leg.
  • High stress: Nervousness can cause shaking and poor test execution.
  • Uncomfortable clothes: Tight pants and high heels limit movement and affect balance.
  • Medical conditions: Injured knees, vertigo and neurological disorders can cause an inability to balance and frequent stumbling.
  • Age: Age reduces the body’s stability.

Failing the tests can result in officers using your test clues as evidence of intoxication. As your defense attorney in Clayton, my task includes challenging this. My strategy focuses on identifying administrative errors and showing that your current condition heavily contributed to the failure.

I Can Help You Build A Field Sobriety Test Defense

Field sobriety tests can be unreliable, which is why I am here to expose procedural errors to weaken the prosecution’s case. I can help you move forward while remaining ready to take aggressive action in defending you in court.

Schedule a consultation with me by calling 314-492-8840 or sending an email. I represent clients throughout St. Louis and St. Charles counties, including before municipal courts in the City of St. Peters, the City of O’Fallon, the City of St. Charles and the surrounding areas.