In the state of California police officers have the authority to pull you over anytime they suspect you of drunk driving. There are several types of field and chemical tests which are used by police officers to find out if a driver has indeed been driving while intoxicated (DWI).

Field Sobriety Tests

Field Sobriety Tests are also known by police officers as "FSTs" for short. These field tests may include a few exercises that are used to determine a person's attention, coordination, and balance. Some of these tests consist of "walk the line", saying the alphabet, one-leg-stand, walk-and-turn, and the horizontal gaze nystagmus (HGN) which is following an object like an officer's pen with your eyes from side to side.

Blood Alcohol Tests

In drunk driving cases, you'll often hear the term "B.A.C." which stands for "Blood Alcohol Content" or "B.A.L." which means "Blood Alcohol Level". In California you will be arrested and charged with DUI if your B.A.C. is at or over 0.08 percent. To find out a person's blood alcohol content, police officers use breath analyzing machines.

You have the option of asking for a second blood test from a third party if you're not satisfied with the results. Police officers do not have sufficient enough training to do this type of blood test. In which case a hospital staff will have to administer.

Breath tests have often found to be inaccurate by drunk driving lawyers in many DUI cases. There are many factors that can affect the result of a breath test including a person's temperature, breath patterns, and other compounds in the breath. There are several types of breath analyzing machines on the market and law enforcement must take care of them properly for the results to be effective. Sometimes these breath analyzing machines are not highly maintained which could bring about a wrong B.A.C. result.

Maria Palma is a freelance writer committed to helping people with their San Diego DUI. Make sure to hire a professional and experienced DUI lawyer in San Diego.