The typical DWI case usually begins with a police officer pulling someone over for a traffic violation such as speeding, swerving, or even something as serious as a traffic accident.

DWI police officers usually will then notice that the driver has an odor of alcohol on their breath, bloodshot and watery eyes, and slurred speech. You are asked to step out of their car to perform field sobriety tests. You are now a suspect in a DWI investigation.

Normally, three roadside field sobriety tests are given: 1) The Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus test, 2) the Walk-and-Turn test, and 3) the One Leg Stand test. As the suspect is doing these tests, the police officer is keeping score, but never reveals the criteria used to score the performance. The suspect also does NOT get credit for doing something correctly. The suspect is not given to a practice run.

Just when you think you passed the 3 tests with flying colors, the police officer arrests you and takes you downtown where you either give a breath test or a blood test. Now you are being charged with a DWI. Upon being booked, you now have criminal records that are available to the public.

How did this happen? And what do I do now? Well, you go get yourself a lawyer. And you need a damn good one because your career, your record, and your reputation are on the line.