Nashville DUI Attorney Discusses Interrogations

Tennessee treats driving a motor vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant (DUI) as a major offense, says a Nashville DUI attorney, and its law enforcement agents investigate all suspected incidents thoroughly for all available evidence. In their investigations, state and local police first interrogate all suspects before they administer field tests for conclusive evidence.

The interrogation itself is in effect a preliminary test that gives the officer an opportunity to look for objective signs of intoxication in the odor of alcohol or in slurred speech.

Justifications for Interrogation

One reason for interrogating the suspect before testing for sobriety is to determine whether any pre-existing physical impairments preclude use of particular field tests. For example, field sobriety tests of the ability to balance on one leg would not be appropriate for a suspect with infirm or injured knees.

Our Nashville DUI attorney adds that by asking them for the date and time, an interrogation also can reveal whether suspects suffer from any mental impairment from alcohol or whether they can respond rationally with coherence and orientation to time and place. Asking whether they can say why the police stopped them has the same purpose.

Divided Attention Tests

Interrogation before field sobriety testing assesses the suspect’s divided attention ability. Divided attention requires the brain to perform two or more tasks at the same time. Under the influence of alcohol, the tasks become more difficult. Divided attention tasks measure the ability to perform mental and physical multitasking necessary to operate an automobile safely.

Several field sobriety tests divide attention because they require completion of two or more tasks at the same time:

• The walk-and-turn test requires the suspect to perform a difficult physical task while listening to and demonstrating comprehension of compound instructions.
• The one-leg stand test requires the subject to balance on one leg while counting aloud in thousands.

Two different field sobriety tests may combine as in these examples:

• A count-aloud test may combine with touching of the thumb to the fingertips in a finger-count test.
• Walking a straight line may combine with touching the heel to the toes in a walk-and-turn test.

There are also three types of interrogation that intend to divide attention:

• Asking for two things at the same time, both a driver’s license and the vehicle registration, for example.
• Asking questions to interrupt or distract.
• Asking unusual questions.

Consult a Nashville DUI Attorney

Anyone stopped for, arrested for, or charged with DUI should contact our Nashville DUI attorney Brent Horst as soon as possible to discuss the facts of the case with professional counsel skilled and experienced at handling drunk-driving cases. The governing law is complex, the prosecutors practice a zero-tolerance policy, and the courts are not reluctant to order severe sentences. The advice and advocacy of a Nashville DUI attorney are indispensable to every defendant. Call today to make an appointment.