Why Field Sobriety Tests?

The uniform field sobriety tests are designed to determine level of impairment, as well as provide fodder/evidence to establish a basis for probable cause to arrest for DUI. They are the horizontal gaze nystagmus, the one leg stand to a count of 30, the heel to toe 9 step walk and turn, and the portable/preliminary breath test that is only… Read More

New Year, New Life?

Many people will make commitments over the next week, most the time, with the idea o bettering their lives. Resolutions are great, but only if they create new habits. As I’ve mentioned here before habits are a great evolutionary tactic, but, they often can create negatives, if not continually reevaluated and adjusted. Sometimes they need to be replaced in total.… Read More

The .05 blood alcohol proposal

The NTSB is recommending a reduction in the presumptive blood alcohol level from .08 to .05. They say that it would reduce DUI related fatalities further. The states should all move very carefully in deciding to adopt. First, there are many other ways to reduce traffic related fatalities that deserve examination as priority issues. Since in most states fatigue, speed,… Read More

Walking the Line on DUIs

Those that push the envelope on getting tagged with a DUI eventually wind up with one. They’ll always wind up all that goes with it. This doesn’t mean that they will be convicted of the charge, but they will suffer the humiliation of handcuffs and arrest, the expense of the whole process, the self deprecation along with the loss of… Read More