Types of DUI Tests Florida

DUI tests are used in Florida to determine the blood alcohol content of a driver. You can be arrested if your BAC is over 0.08% or if the police officer thinks your normal faculties are impaired by drugs or alcohol.

Officer conducting breathalizer on driver

Every driver in Florida with a driver’s license gives their implied consent to chemical testing if arrested on a DUI charge. If you refuse to submit to the test, you may attract penalties, such as a misdemeanor charge and license suspension. Call our Florida DUI defense lawyers at Carlson Meissner & Hayslett to discuss your legal options and get the best defense possible to dismiss or reduce your DUI charges.

Types of DUI Tests in Florida

Field sobriety tests

There are three standardized field sobriety tests: one-leg stand, walk and turn, and horizontal gaze nystagmus. These are administered to check a motorist’s balance, coordination, and ability to follow directions. Poor performance is considered a sign of impairment or intoxication.

Breath tests

Breathalyzer is another form of DUI testing, which they can administer at the police station or on the road. You will need to blow into the breathalyzer to measure the alcohol concentration in your lungs to determine the BAC. These devices are subject to malfunction and user error, so we can challenge the test results.

Blood testing

These are considered one of the most accurate forms of testing the blood alcohol level. It may be performed at the police station or the hospital by a certified individual. They will draw your blood sample and send it for testing to a lab. A blood test could deliver faulty results if it is not stored correctly.

Drug tests

You may be asked to undergo a blood or urine test to determine the presence of drugs in the blood, both illegal and prescription drugs. A significant flaw of this test is that while it can detect drugs, it cannot determine when you took them.

Challenging DUI Test Results in Florida

We can challenge DUI test results because they are often conducted improperly, or there are faults with the breathalyzers or the lab testing equipment. It takes an experienced law firm to know the science behind DUI tests and how to challenge the test results successfully.

The top-rated Florida DUI defense attorneys at Carlson Meissner & Hayslett are aware of how mistakes are made by law enforcement in carrying out these tests and the various ways in which we can expose these errors in Florida criminal court.

Our attorneys can obtain successful outcomes in your defense even when you think the odds are stacked against you. For instance, you may think your case is helpless if you blew a 0.09 on the breathalyzer or refused to submit to a field sobriety test.

But our DUI defense team at Carlson Meissner & Hayslett will find ways to expose the weaknesses in specimen collection, test methodology, lab test procedure, or equipment reliability and show that reasonable doubt exists in the prosecution’s evidence against you.

The burden of Proof Lies on the Prosecutors

Prosecutors must prove that the accused is guilty of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol beyond a reasonable doubt. Most DUI cases in Florida hinge on breath, blood, and chemical tests. You won’t get convicted of a DUI if the prosecutor fails to prove the testing was accurate. The burden of proof is high in criminal cases, and you will be surprised at how often our defense lawyers can successfully show the failure of test results.

Get a Free Case Evaluation from Our Seasoned Florida DUI Defense Attorneys

Our experienced DUI attorneys at Carlson Meissner & Hayslett are ready to investigate your case and test results to determine whether proper protocols according to Florida laws were met. Our attorneys will work to reduce your charges as much as possible. To schedule your free consultation, call us at (727) 306-0273 or fill out our online contact form.