DUI Tests

If you are pulled over on suspicion of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol, the DUI traffic stop process will begin. It's important you understand what will ensue during this stop so you can be prepared, and understand if it is conducted lawfully or unlawfully in accordance with Pennsylvania law. For the purposes of this article, I will provide you with some insight about DUI tests and how they will be conducted before and after an arrest.

DUI Checkpoints

DUI checkpoints are marked roadblocks that are temporarily occupied by police officers for several hours at a time. They serve as a visual deterrent for impaired drivers. In order for a checkpoint to be deemed lawful, authorities must adhere to strict guidelines under Pennsylvania law. Some of these guidelines include having an established numerical system or pattern to determine who gets stopped to avoid claims of discrimination, maximizing the visibility of all checkpoints, and to implement brief stops in the absence of reasonable suspicion.

If a suspected driver is stopped at a DUI checkpoint, an officer will ask you several questions. If this officer suspects that you are impaired based on this brief encounter, then he will ask you to drive to the second phase of the checkpoint to administer field sobriety tests.

Field Sobriety Tests

It is routine for police officers to conduct field sobriety tests prior to the request for a breath test and an arrest. These tests challenge a suspected driver's coordination, balance, memory, and motor skills to establish reasonable suspicion of alcohol or drug impairment. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified several that are supposedly most predictive of blood alcohol content (BAC) impairment. These are known as standardized field sobriety tests. They include the horizontal gaze nystagmus test, the walk-and-turn test, and the one-leg stand test. Some officers have also been known to administer non-standardized field sobriety, like asking drivers to recite the ABCs, to count fingers that they're holding up, or to recite numbers backward.

Portable Breath Test

Much like its name suggests, Pennsylvania officers may administer a portable breath test to suspected DUI drivers. It is used to detect a rough estimate of a driver's blood alcohol content level. Due to inadequate calibration requirements, the results of portable breath tests are not admissible in court like blood or official breathalyzer tests. So basically, the only purpose it serves is to give an officer probable cause to arrest a driver.

Blood Tests / Breath tests

If probable cause has been established, an officer will make an arrest on suspicion of a DUI. Following this arrest, drivers will be transported to a local hospital where they will be asked to submit a blood test or breath test. Each test will be administered by a licensed nurse or phlebotomist who has been trained to draw blood for purposes of criminal prosecutions.

Refusing Tests - Implied Consent Law

Through the enforcement of Pennsylvania's “Implied Consent” law, it is illegal for state motorists to refuse taking blood, breath, or urine tests following a lawful arrest. Essentially, this law dictates that by driving on state roadways, drivers implicitly agree to testing to determine their BAC upon the request of an officer. Once a suspected driver is arrested, an officer has an obligation to warn them that if they refuse testing, they are breaking the law and subject to consequences. If, after being warned, a driver still makes the choice to refuse, they will be charged with a violation of implied consent. Refusing DUI testing carries consequences of a license suspension for one year. For subsequent offenses, drivers are facing an 18-month license suspension.

Pennsylvania Criminal Defense Attorney

If you've been arrested for a DUI, it does not guarantee a conviction. With the help of a skilled Pennsylvania criminal defense attorney, you can get these charges reduced or even dismissed. Contact LLF's Criminal Law Team today for help.

Contact Us Today!

The LLF Law Firm Team has decades of experience successfully resolving clients' criminal charges in Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania counties. If you are having any uncertainties about what the future may hold for you or a loved one, contact the LLF Law Firm today! Our Criminal Defense Team will go above and beyond the needs of any client, and will fight until the final bell rings.

This website was created only for general information purposes. It is not intended to be construed as legal advice for any situation. Only a direct consultation with a licensed Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York attorney can provide you with formal legal counsel based on the unique details surrounding your situation. The pages on this website may contain links and contact information for third party organizations - the Lento Law Firm does not necessarily endorse these organizations nor the materials contained on their website. In Pennsylvania, Attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout Pennsylvania's 67 counties, including, but not limited to Philadelphia, Allegheny, Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Dauphin, Delaware, Lancaster, Lehigh, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Schuylkill, and York County. In New Jersey, attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout New Jersey's 21 counties: Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Salem, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren County, In New York, Attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout New York's 62 counties. Outside of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York, unless attorney Joseph D. Lento is admitted pro hac vice if needed, his assistance may not constitute legal advice or the practice of law. The decision to hire an attorney in Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania counties, New Jersey, New York, or nationwide should not be made solely on the strength of an advertisement. We invite you to contact the Lento Law Firm directly to inquire about our specific qualifications and experience. Communicating with the Lento Law Firm by email, phone, or fax does not create an attorney-client relationship. The Lento Law Firm will serve as your official legal counsel upon a formal agreement from both parties. Any information sent to the Lento Law Firm before an attorney-client relationship is made is done on a non-confidential basis.

Menu