If you are charged with operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, you will need a competent DUI lawyer. The attorneys at Willis Lucas Law Group have a thorough knowledge of all Florida laws governing DUI arrests and cases, as well as the typical legal maneuverings of prosecuting attorneys.
A competent DUI lawyer in Jacksonville knows that the results of field sobriety tests often are questionable because arresting officers fail to abide by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) guidelines. For instance, the NHTSA manual indicates that walk-and-turn and one-leg stand tests should not be done on any suspect who is more than 50 pounds overweight or has a physical impairment that could affect his balance. Rarely is this guideline followed. Another example is proper performance of the horizontal gaze nystagmus test, wherein an officer instructs a DUI suspect to follow a pen with his eyes. NHTSA guidelines indicate that if the suspect moves his head during the test, the officer is to use his hand or flashlight as a chin rest for the suspect and re-do the test. These and other oft-overlooked guidelines can render test results inadmissible in court.
Another issue that an effective DUI lawyer in Jacksonville considers is the reliability of breathalyzer machines, which can vary significantly depending upon machine settings used to calculate the amount of alcohol in a person’s blood based on the amount released into his breath. Studies show that readings can vary up to 50% from the actual breath alcohol content of a suspect and breathalyzer manufacturers rarely reveal source codes (mathematical formulas used to convert breath samples into BAC numbers) to defense attorneys. Florida judges have dismissed hundreds of DUI cases based on this refusal alone.
If you are facing a DUI charge, make sure you have the benefit of a DUI Lawyer. The attorneys at Willis Lucas Law Group, P.A. have the experience and know-how to protect your rights and best interests throughout your DUI case. Contact us at (904) 270-8707.