Why Hire Jeffrey Randa and Associates?
Michigan prosecutors rely heavily on field sobriety tests, so your attorney needs to know exactly how these tests work, and how they fail. We examine every detail of the stop, the officer’s instructions, and the conditions at the scene to find weaknesses in the case from the very start.
What sets our team apart:
- Proven results reducing and dismissing DUI charges
- Decades of focused DUI defense in Metro Detroit
- Transparent flat-fee pricing and clear communication
- Deep experience identifying improper testing conditions and officer errors
- Consistent 5-star client reviews across DUI and roadside test cases
What Is a Field Sobriety Test in Michigan?
Field sobriety tests are coordination and focus-based tasks that officers use during a traffic stop. These usually include the walk-and-turn, one-leg stand, and horizontal gaze nystagmus test. The HGN test requires you to follow an object (usually, a pen, or the officer’s finger) with your eyes only, keeping your head still.
Officers use these observations to decide whether there is probable cause for a DUI arrest.
These tests do not measure intoxication. Instead, they measure an officer’s interpretation of your performance, which can be flawed.
Factors that commonly affect results include:
- Anxiety or stress
- Uneven or slippery pavement
- Footwear
- Back, leg, or balance issues
- Poor lighting
- Weather conditions
Are Field Sobriety Tests Required in Michigan?
No. You can decline a field sobriety test in Michigan. Michigan’s implied consent law applies only to chemical tests (breath, blood, or urine) after an arrest. Field sobriety tests are voluntary, even though officers often imply otherwise. Declining may not prevent an arrest, but it limits the evidence available later in the case.
What Happens If You Refuse a Field Sobriety Test?
If you refuse, the officer must rely on other observations, such as driving behavior, speech, balance, or odor of alcohol. Refusal to take field sobriety tests does not result in any kind of automatic penalties. It simply means the prosecution will have less evidence, and the officer’s testimony becomes more critical.
Prosecutors may argue refusal shows you were worried about failing, but this is not proof of impairment. Your attorney can challenge that assumption and highlight the subjective nature of roadside testing.
How Do We Challenge Field Sobriety Test Results?
We look at every factor that could influence your case. Common defense strategies include:
1. Showing the Test Was Not Administered Correctly
Officers must follow standardized protocols. If they deviated from them, we can argue that the results are unreliable.
2. Identifying Physical or Medical Conditions
Back problems, vertigo, medications, age, and injuries can all lead to test “failures” unrelated to alcohol use.
3. Pointing Out Environmental Factors
Uneven or slippery pavement, poor weather, heavy traffic, or low lighting can distort performance.
4. Using Bodycam or Dashcam Footage
Video often shows inconsistencies between what the officer claimed and what actually happened. For example, observable bias or leading instructions can undermine the credibility of the results.
5. Challenging the Legal Basis for the Traffic Stop
If the stop itself was improper, the test results and all subsequent evidence may be suppressed.
How Can a DUI Attorney Help You Build a Defense?
You may feel overwhelmed after a DUI arrest, but you do not have to sort through these issues alone. When we take your case, we:
- Review video, reports, and on-scene conditions
- Determine whether the officer had probable cause
- Identify the strongest points to challenge in the prosecution’s evidence
- Negotiate reduced charges when appropriate
- Prepare your case for hearings at district or circuit courts across Metro Detroit
Our goal is simple. We want to limit the impact of the arrest on your life and help you move forward with confidence.
Talk with Our Michigan Field Sobriety Test Attorneys
Field sobriety tests are not reliable indicators of impairment, and failing one does not mean you will be convicted. You deserve a defense that looks deeper than an officer’s roadside judgment.
At Jeffrey Randa and Associates, we help drivers across Michigan challenge their DUI charges by scrutinizing every detail of the stop. Call us today so we can review your case and begin building your defense.
All of our consultations are free, confidential, and done over the phone. We are very friendly people who will be glad to answer your questions and explain the DUI process.
The goal in every DUI case is to get the whole thing dismissed completely. If the evidence is strong enough to survive a legal challenge, then we need to do what’s necessary to avoid as many of the legal penalties and negative consequences as possible. Ultimately, success in a DUI case is best measured by what does NOT happen to you.