Virginia Police DUI Conference

A conference for police officers was recently held in Virginia Beach at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. The focus of the event was on new techniques for police to use in DUI enforcement.

One demonstrated technique mentioned in the article was from an optometry professor. He instructed officers in the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus test, or HGN. The Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus is a test that measures involuntary movement of the eye, and is said to be correlated with alcohol impairment.

However, many experts feel that this is a scientific test that is very difficult for an untrained police officer to give an honest assessment. What is the basis for comparison? How can the officer measure the angle of the deviation to determine if it is within normal parameters? Ultimately, the officer's analysis is pure guesswork.

For this reason, most Virginia DUI Lawyers can get HGN evidence dismissed by judges.

Article on Complexity of Virginia DUI Laws

Interesting article on the very complicated DUI laws here in Virgina, particularly in the case of 2nd or subsequent offenses. Particular note is made of how laws are applied, and most likely sentences by judges in Lynchburg and Bedford Counties.

It is always interesting how much justice is truly not blind, and sentencing can vary widely based on the tendencies of the judge involved.