For most people in Pennsylvania, being arrested and charged with any type of criminal offense can be an extremely upsetting and scary event. While challenging, it is important for people in these situations to remain calm and remember that they have the right to defend themselves against any charges, including those involving drunk driving.
If you have been arrested for and charged with a drunk driving offense, you were likely asked to take some tests at the location where you were first stopped by officers. These are commonly called field sobriety tests. If an officer indicates that you have failed one or more of these tests, they would legally be able to arrest you as the focus of these tests is to gather just enough evidence to indicate that you may be impaired.
However, as explained by FieldSobrietyTests.org, your physical or emotional health may prevent you from passing these tests. Balance is one of the things that is evaluated in two of the tests, the one leg stand test and the walk and turn test. Problems with your feet, legs, knees, hips or back can all interfere with your ability to balance. Anxiety or other mental health conditions can also prevent you from balancing properly, especially under stressful conditions such as being questioned by police.
This information is not intended to provide residents in Pennsylvania who may be facing allegations of drunk driving with some facts about the inaccuracy of the tests used during their arrest and how their health may have been a contributing factor in their inability to pass a test.
