Source: https://orlandoduifirm.com/orlando-dui-issues/dui-evidence/admissibility-of-the-hgn-horizontal-gaze-nystamus/
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 02:35:21+00:00

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Is the HGN (horizontal gaze nystagmus) test admissible in your Orlando DUI case?
First, the HGN test is admissible into evidence. In State v. Meador, the court ruled that the HGN is admissible evidence and does have probative value.
Orlando DUI lawyer Elliott Wilcox provides a summary of the issues in State v. Meador and a PDF copy of the case.
Less than 2 years later, the 3rd District Court of Appeal (just 70 miles south of the court which issued the Meador opinion) issued an opinion in Williams v. State, 710 So.2d 24 (Fla. 3rd DCA 1998).
Orlando DUI attorney Elliott Wilcox provides a summary of the issues in Williams v. State and a PDF copy of the case.
Lay observations of field sobriety tests are admissible. They go further to hold that a lay person may testify about observations regarding blood pressure, pulse, body temperature, pupil changes, and the conditions of a DUI driver’s nose or mouth.
However, in another aspect, Williams differs from Meador in their discussion of what exactly is the required foundation for admissibility of the HGN. Meador was very clear that the traditional scientific predicate must be proven before the government may admit evidence of the HGN.
The Williams court wasn’t as clear. They said the HGN results could be admissible in an Orlando DUI case “once a proper foundation has been laid that the test was correctly administered by a qualified DRE” (drug recognition evaluator).
Williams clearly allows qualified DRE’s to testify about the results of the HGN. (Even though the DRE program is, in my opinion, nothing more than a fancy methodology designed to transform a “mere guess” into a court-recognized “expert” opinion).
But the next year, the 3rd DCA went further, and expanded the pool of “qualified” individuals who could testify about HGN results. Bowen v. State, 745 So.2d 1108 (Fla. 3rd DCA 1999). In Bowen, the court opened the floodgates and said that mere “training and experience” might be sufficient to allow anyone to testify about the results of the HGN.
Orlando DUI attorney Elliott Wilcox provides a summary of the issues in Bowen v. State and a PDF copy of the case.
I think it’s important to note that the trooper’s testimony in Bowen was supplemented by testimony from a Drug Recognition Evaluator, who went into additional detail about what the HGN results meant. I would make the argument that the trooper didn’t testify as to the expert opinion, he only outlined the observations of what he saw, and then the DRE (which Williams tells is an “expert”) described what those observations meant. It might be a long shot, but I think it’s worth raising to your judge.
While the defendant expresses concerns about the reliability of the HGN test at roadside, the case law in this district addresses that problem by holding that there must be a confirmatory blood, breath, or urine test before HGN evidence is admissible. See Faires v. State, 711 So.2d 597, 598 (Fla. 3d DCA 1998); Williams, 710 So.2d at 36.
The courts have expanded the pool of potential witnesses who may testify about the results of HGN, but they haven’t completely opened the floodgates. If the State’s witness is “rookie” police officer or someone who has minimal training, then it’s a no-brainer – they’re essentially a lay witness as to the HGN, and shouldn’t be allowed to testify about the results.
However, if they possess special qualifications and training, such as Drug Recognition Evaluator designation (please don’t use the term “drug recognition expert,” that cedes the power of language to your opponent), then the judge will probably allow the prosecutor to admit the evidence in your DUI case.
Your Orlando DUI attorney should have a pre-written motion in limine that they file to prevent the prosecutor from introducing evidence of the HGN during a DUI trial. If you are a Florida DUI attorney and you don’t have a copy of this basic motion, please contact Orlando DUI attorney Elliott Wilcox and I’ll be happy to provide you with a copy of the standard motion that I use.

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