Many of our Philadelphia readers probably know that there are many ways in which a driver can catch the unwanted attention of a police officer. Infractions as simple as a busted taillight or failure to use a turn signal are enough for a police officer to initiate a traffic stop. Speeding is another problem, and one Pennsylvania woman found this out the hard way when she was stopped after allegedly driving 60 to 65 miles per hour in a 35 mile per hour zone. But the stop for speeding didn’t end up as this woman’s biggest problem – she was also arrested for driving under the influence.

According to reports, the arrest was initiated by officers with the Lower Saucon Township Police Department on April 15. The woman was reportedly observed speeding, as well as running a stop sign. After she was stopped the officers asked the woman to participate in field sobriety tests, which she allegedly failed. Although the initial reports did not specify the exact tests conducted in that section of Pennsylvania, field sobriety tests in Philadelphia often include the walk-and-turn test and the stand-on-one-leg test.

It is interesting to see that the arrest in this case occurred after an alleged failure at field sobriety tests. Philadelphia DUI field tests are often controversial because there can be factors that are not taken into consideration, such as a person’s age or weight, which are factors in and of themselves that can affect the outcome of a field sobriety test.

Being arrested because of a reported failure at field sobriety tests may make a person feel like their case is open-and-shut, but that is hardly the case. If mistakes were made during the traffic stop, the results of field sobriety tests can be challenged in court.

Source: Hellertown-LowerSauconPatch, “While Drunk, Woman Drove 30 mph Over Speed Limit: Police,” May 4, 2013