Calvert County DUI Acquittal After Challenging Field Sobriety Testing
Location: Calvert County, Maryland
Attorney: Luke Woods
Year: 2026
Result: Not guilty of DUI and DWI
The Case
Our client was charged with DUI and DWI after an officer observed poor driving and conducted field sobriety testing.
Attorney Luke Woods examined how the officer administered the tests, including the horizontal gaze nystagmus test, commonly called HGN.
The Defense
At trial, Luke cross-examined the officer about the administration of the field sobriety tests. That questioning exposed problems with the testing and led the court to reject its validity. Specifically, the court found that the officer's knowledge of the tests was lacking and that his performance did not correlate with his claimed observations.
The defense focused on the details behind the officer's conclusions, including how the testing was performed and whether the resulting observations deserved the weight the State placed on them.
The Result
The court returned a not-guilty verdict on the DUI and DWI charges.
Examining the Testing Behind a DUI Arrest
For someone facing a DUI charge, field sobriety testing can feel like a settled issue once an officer has characterized the performance as evidence of impairment. A careful defense examines the testing itself. In a DUI case, having a NHTSA-trained lawyer can make a meaningful difference.
Questions about the officer's instructions, administration, observations, and interpretation can help identify what needs closer scrutiny. In this case, cross-examination of the testing became central to the defense.
FrizWoods represents clients facing DUI and DWI charges in Calvert County and throughout Maryland. Contact our Maryland DUI defense attorneys for a free consultation about your case.
Every case is different. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.