Massachusetts OUI arrests will generally contained statements by the officer in the police report that the motorist failed field sobriety tests. Are these tests even reliable? Studies by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show these tests are approximately 68%. Is that enough to prove a case to a judge or jury beyond a reasonable doubt? The answer is in many case it is not enough as the problems with these tests are easy to understand.
The case of actress Stephanie Pratt demonstrates the minimal reliability of these tests. According to news accounts, the actress was taking these tests in four inch high heel boots. Police training manuals clearly provide that any motorist with two inch or more high heels should be given a chance to take off their shoes. If this account is accurate, the officer's experience, training and opinion on whether Pratt was under the influence could be called into question by a good DUI lawyer on cross examination.
If you were arrested based on field sobriety tests and feel as though the tests were unfairly administered, given under difficult conditions or scored improperly by the officer, call Attorney DelSignore to discuss your case. Many arrested for a Massachusetts OUI feel as though the police account is the final word. An OUI trial is a chance to attack the Commonwealth case and let a judge or jury decide whether the officer's observations were correct and are sufficient to prove the OUI case beyond a reasonable doubt. Attorney DelSignore will explain the process of fighting a Massachusetts OUI case. Call 508-455-4755 or contact him by email.
