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• I've been arrested for DUI. What happens to my Driver's License?
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• The 'Rising Blood Alcohol' Defense
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• I've been arrested & cited for DUI? What happens next?
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Women at a Disadvantage for Field Sobriety Tests

While most people who are charged with DUI are men, an increasing amount of women have been similarly charged recently. That being said, most of the tests to determine sobriety are often tailored for men instead of women, and women can be at a disadvantage when it comes to determining blood alcohol levels and sobriety levels in general.

As an example, when a woman is suspected of drinking and driving, the officer that pulls her over is male in most cases. Thus, when a woman is pulled over in a remote area – especially at night – she may not be willing to participate in exercises that include roadside agility tests, as she may simply be concerned for her safety. The police officer, in turn, may misinterpret this behavior and assume that the woman is in fact acting guilty.

Similarly, if the woman does agree to perform these roadside tests, she may not be able to perform well in these tests, as again she could be worried about her own safety and feel stressed as a result.

Moreover, a woman feeling stress at such a time may begin to shake and/or cry. Once again, the police officer could incorrectly assume that the woman is guilty of drinking and driving because of this behavior.

Along similar lines, a woman is definitely more likely to wear high-heeled shoes than her male counterparts. Although a police officer may give a woman the chance to remove her shoes or boots, many women may not take off their footwear for safety reasons – and/or because it is uncomfortable to walk barefoot on the road. In turn, a woman may be more likely to stumble during a field sobriety test due to high-heeled footwear.

Have you or someone you know been arrested for a DUI charge? Contact McGregor & Ernenwein to obtain a completely free consultation with one of our experienced Torrance criminal defense attorneys.