Good Luck Passing a Field Sobriety Test

Field sobriety tests frequently used by law enforcement officials to ascertain whether or not a motorist is under the influence of alcohol. In general, these tests consist of 3-5 exercises, like the finger to nose test, one leg stand, heel to toe, alphabet recitation, and so forth. The police officer who administers the test will use their subjective opinion to determine if the suspect passes or fails a test.

To an uneducated jury, these DWI tests seem adequately scientific. In reality, however, these tests have no scientific foundation and, in most DWI cases, are totally useless.

Find Out Which States Are the Toughest On Drunk Drivers

Wallethub.com, a website specializing in financial services, has created a report ranking states on how lenient or tough their laws are on DWI offenders.

In their report, Wallethub cites a statistic from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that states 31% of automobile fatalities in 2012 involved the consumption of alcohol. However, this number has significantly declined since 1980 when states first began to crack down on drunk driving. Wallethub contends that the decline can be attributed to the tougher laws and harsher penalties states have implemented to fight and punish drunk driving.

DWI “Expert” Officers Instructed To Lie Under Oath

In most DWI trials, the prosecution’s most valuable witness is their crime lab’s blood alcohol expert, commonly called a forensic toxicologist. A forensic toxicologist explains to a jury what a Breathalyzer or blood test’s results were and what this means, what the defendant’s probable blood alcohol content (BAC) was at the time they were driving, and whether the Breathalyzer was properly maintained and in good working order at the time it was used. In most instances, the accuracy and honesty of this expert witness’s testimony under oath is crucial to the trial’s outcome.

Unfortunately, these expert witnesses are not honest, nor objective, in their testimony. As an employee of the law enforcement agency, he or she believes that their duty is to assist the prosecutor in securing a conviction – and their testimony is tailored accordingly.

Durham, New Hampshire Sees a Sharp Increase In DWI Arrests

Police officers in Durham, New Hampshire have experienced a sharp increase in the number of driving while intoxicated arrests this year.

As of September 10^th, there have been a total of 57 DWI arrests in Durham, which is higher than the total number of DWI arrests made in 2013 and 2014. 2012 saw the highest annual total of arrests of the last three years with 82 motorists being arrested for DWI in town.

Here’s What You Need to Know About Being Charged With a DWI Outside of Your Home State

In most instances, motorists understand and are familiar with the driving while intoxicated laws in their home state where their driver’s license was issued. Moreover, they are also aware of the negative effects a DWI conviction can have on their criminal record and driving privileges. In the unfortunate event that a New Hampshire motorist should receive a DWI charge in another state (e.g. while traveling or on vacation), it can be difficult to understand how to fight these charges.

It is imperative to know that, in each state, being arrested for a DWI will set into motion two different events that are different from one another. The first of these events is a suspension of your driving privileges in the state you were arrested in. The second is prosecution of a DWI charge through that state’s legal system. How each of these events is handled will produce a significant effect on your future and the case’s outcome.