One of the first signs a Fort Worth officer notices when he approaches your car after you have been stopped for a traffic violation is the odor of an alcoholic beverage. If the officer believes you have been drinking he/she will typically ask you to perform standardized field sobriety tests. The standardized field sobriety tests that have been recognized by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) include:

  1. The Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN);
  2. The Walk and Turn Test;
  3. The One Leg Stand Test.

Nystagmus refers to the involuntary jerking of the eye and is not visible to the naked eye. Once you have consumed alcohol and alcohol enters your system, nystagmus can be seen by the naked eye.

The walk and turn test is known as a “divided attention test” because the walk and turn test requires a person to listen to instructions and perform tasks as the same time.

The one leg stand test is similar to the walk and turn test in that is known as a divided attention test.

We know that a criminal conviction can have serious repercussions on your future so we work diligently to limit the adverse consequences of a misdemeanor or felony conviction. These devastating consequences may include:

  • Criminal record that is revealed in criminal background checks
  • Denial of loans from banks and finance companies
  • Barriers to employment in specific occupations
  • Ineligibility for certain professional licenses
  • Removal and exclusion from entry to the U.S. under immigration laws
  • Public record of your conviction available to landlords and employers
  • Expulsion or denial of admission at some universities