Updated on March 24th, 2021 at 07:06 pm

There are medical conditions with symptoms that mimic the signs of impairment that an officer looks for when conducting a Wisconsin DUI stop.  Wisconsin DUI Enforcement officers do not have medical training to be able to diagnose a disorder of a driver.  Specifically, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) typically produces symptoms similar to a drunk driver.

Signs of Intoxicated Driving for a Wisconsin DUI

A Wisconsin DUI Enforcement officer looks for signs of how a person is driving and then considers the personal contact with the driver before deciding to administer field sobriety tests.  A driver with ADHD exhibits similar behaviors of a drunk driver, such as inattentiveness, aggressiveness, and unnecessary risk-taking.  Some reasons to stop a driver for a Wisconsin DUI include weaving, straddling the center lane marker, driving too closely, slow responses to traffic signals, and driving with headlights off.  Similarly, drivers with ADHD display these same behaviors, regardless of alcohol consumption.

Driver’s Performance on Wisconsin DUI Field Sobriety Tests

Officers look for specific signs of impairment while the driver performs the Wisconsin DUI field sobriety tests; however, these signs of impairment closely resemble the symptoms of ADHD.  A driver with ADHD and a driver showing signs of impairment will have difficulty paying attention to details, make careless mistakes, become distracted during “attention tasks,” appear to not listen and then have difficulty following the directions given, and talk excessively, usually interrupting others, etc.  The Standardized Field Sobriety Tests administered for a Wisconsin DUI are divided-attention tests to determine if a driver can stand still, listen to directions, and then perform the directions given.

Hire an Aggressive Defense with Wisconsin DUI Defense Attorney Nathan J. Dineen

There are many reasons to fight a Wisconsin DUI arrest, especially with the knowledge and experience of Wisconsin DUI Defense Attorney Nathan J. Dineen.  Attorney Dineen practices 100% DUI Defense in Wisconsin.  He is a Certified Field Sobriety Test Instructor and Drug Recognition Evaluator (DRE).  Attorney Dineen is also a member of the National College of DUI Defense.  Contact him for a Free Case Review at 877-384-6800.  He is available 24/7.