Road accidents are often caused by poor decisions such as driving under the influence of alcohol. To prevent instances of accidents, it only makes sense that officers would ask suspected drivers that they feel may be under the influence to pull over and conduct sobriety testing.   Usually, the substance influence testing that immediately comes into mind includes chemical testing which includes breath and urine testing. However, professionals also include tests that assess a person's cognitive and physical capabilities to drive on the road and prevent potential accidents.

Field sobriety tests in Michigan include standard and non-standard testing procedures. Standard testing comprises of three types of tests: One-leg stand test, Walk-and-turn test, and Horizontal gaze nystagmus or HGN test.  These tests are usually focused on eyes and the absence of twitching, balance and a person's ability to follow instructions. A person who is considered sober should have good eye and body coordination and balance. Several substances such as alcohol and drugs can impair these processes, which can result to problematic driving and accidents. If you pass these tests, then you do not have to worry about charges that other individuals face.

As they are standard tests, it implies that every state should comply and include these tests in identifying people at risk of causing road accidents. However, some testing procedures like field sobriety tests in Michigan vary and have other tests included to further verify a driver's sobriety. Non-standardized tests include counting and enumerating alphabetical letters backwards, the finger-to-nose test,  the Rhomberg stationary balance test, and the hand-pat test, which can be within the monitoring official's discretion.

Just like the other testing procedures, these non-standardized tests also assess a person's balance and cognitive ability at the current situation.  While these testing procedures are required, it is important to take note that extraneous variables can affect the result's integrity. An example of these extraneous variables that may affect result's accuracy is the testing officer's ability to read results. Some officers are highly skilled in deriving these results as something caused by being under influenced or other factors. Knowing this fact moved a lot of people to hire a DUI lawyer to ensure that they will have a fair chance of avoiding charges. A DUI lawyer knows how to defend their clients and identify what procedures can prove their sobriety.

Many people think if it is possible to decline undergoing these testing procedures. It is normal for a person to decline these test procedures, especially if he or she did not consume any substance. People may not undergo testing but gain penalty in the end like license suspension for several days or months. Consulting a DUI lawyer is also a common practice for many drivers to know their rights when it comes to sobriety testing.  If you are in Michigan facing a drunk driving charge, visit http://theclarklawoffice.com/criminal-defense-attorneys/ for more information.

Every driver should know about field sobriety test in Michigan so that your rights aren't trampled by the accompanying officer. These details serve as an introduction if you wish to know how these procedures are conducted and understanding your rights under these circumstances. Consulting an expert would be helpful for you in case you are assessed driving under influence even without taking any substance before doing so.