Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus in Phoenix DUI

Phoenix DUI Attorney

If you have been arrested for drinking and driving, you must take action now to defend your rights and your future. A conviction could lead to DUI penalties including a driver's license suspension, fines and jail. Hiring a Phoenix DUI attorney from the Knowles Law Firm can greatly improve your chances of avoiding negative consequences, as the firm includes a former Arizona Vehicular Crimes prosecutor and former police officer who have extensive experience with test such as the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus.

The Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus, along with the One-Leg Stand and the Walk-and-Turn, comprise the standardized battery of field sobriety tests which were issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 1981. These tests are intended to make it possible for police officers and state troopers to make an objective judgment of whether a drunk driving suspect is under the influence of alcohol. While they have some validity, they are not 100% error-proof, and depend to a large degree on how well the test is administered, as well as the officer's subjective opinion.

Understanding the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus Test

"Nystagmus" is a medical term used to refer to the involuntary, jerking movement of the eye. It can occur for a variety of reasons, including fatigue, eye strain from driving at night, caffeine consumption, high blood pressure, vitamin B1 deficiency, as well as intoxication. The HGN test involves waving a pen or other small object in front of the suspect's face while watching for certain irregularities in the motion of the eyes. If the police officer's testimony regarding the test cannot stand up to aggressive cross-examination from an attorney from the firm, you may be cleared of the charges you face.

Contact a Phoenix DUI lawyer from the firm today to discuss your arrest and determine whether it may be possible to invalidate the horizontal gaze nystagmus test results.