Understanding The Role That The Mandatory Observation Period Plays In A DWI Arrest

There are a lot of laws that govern the actions that occur after a police officer pulls a person over because they suspect them of driving while intoxicated. These laws are designed to help the police officer find out whether or not the person in question truly is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. DWIs carry extremely stiff penalties.

Officers in the state of Texas have to follow these laws to make sure that they aren’t accidentally arresting someone who is not guilty of committing this crime. One of the actions that they have to take is known as the mandatory observation period. In essence, this means that they have to keep an eye on you for 15 minutes before giving you a breath test to measure the amount of alcohol in your blood. If the officer fails to do this, it can affect the results of your blood alcohol content test. In many cases, it can also lead to a wrongful conviction for DWI.

If the officer fails to adhere to the mandatory observation period, you can contest the charges against you. In many cases, however, it will be your word against the word of the police officer. That doesn’t mean that this defense can’t be used effectively to get the charges against you dropped. You will generally have better success, however, if you work with a qualified DWI attorney in Houston TX. An attorney who is familiar with Texas state laws may be able to help you prove that the results of your test were inaccurate or that they were negatively impacted by external factors, helping to get the case against you thrown out.

Source: https://www.thehoustondwilawyer.com/mandatory-observation-period