What is the Step, Walk, and Turn Test When Pulled Over for DUI?
If you are stopped by a police officer on suspicion of DUI, they may ask you to take a number of field sobriety tests. While you have the right to decline field sobriety tests, many motorists perform them because they mistakenly feel they can perform them well, or they take them because they equally mistakenly believe that they cannot refuse them and must perform them simply because the officer or officers asked. One of these standard tests is the “Step, Walk and Turn.”
This test should not be given to persons 65 years of age or older or persons with back, leg, or middle ear problems, and anyone with heels greater than two inches should be offered the opportunity to take the test without shoes with high heels. Please understand this is not gender specific and applies equally to ladies with high heels ready for a night on the town surely as it does to a man with high heeled cowboy boots or ropers.
The test should be performed on a reasonably dry, hard, level, and non-slippery surface.
The test begins in part with the instruction stage, where the officer explains that the test starts with placing the left foot in front of the right on a straight line. The test taker must show that he understands what is expected of him.
The test next proceeds in part to an actual demonstration of the heel-toe walking along the line by the officer.
Next, the test taker actually begins the test when told, and the officer scores his performance.
If you have been arrested for drunk driving after taking a field sobriety test, you should immediately contact our DuPage County DUI defense lawyers.
