The Walk-and-Turn test and One-Leg Stand test are “divided attention” tests that are easily performed by most unimpaired people. They require a suspect to listen to and follow instructions while performing simple physical movements. Impaired persons have difficulty with tasks requiring their attention to be divided between simple mental and physical exercises.
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In the Walk-and-Turn test, the subject is directed to take nine steps, heel-to-toe, along a straight line. After taking the steps, the suspect must turn on one foot and return in the same manner in the opposite direction. The examiner looks for eight indicators of impairment: if the suspect cannot keep balance while listening to the instructions, begins before the instructions are finished, stops while walking to regain balance, does not touch heel-to-toe, steps off the line, uses arms to balance, makes an improper turn, or takes an incorrect number of steps. NHTSA research indicates that 79 percent of individuals who exhibit two or more indicators in the performance of the test will have a BAC of 0.08 or greater (Stuster and Burns, 1998).
View videos and descriptions of other field sobriety tests commonly conducted in Florida.
If you have recently failed the WAT test or another field sobriety test in Florida you are not necessarily guilty. First of all police may have not instructed you to do so properly or perhaps you are physically unable to perform the test(s). If either of those stand to be true the state’s attorney will have a difficult time convincing the jury of your guilt. It’s also important to remember these tests are not the best scientific evidence and their significance will be left up to the jury if your case indeed does go to trial.
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Tags: Sobriety Tests
