DWI/DUI THE WALK AND TURN TEST... What You Need to Know

1. This is a very popular FIELD SOBRIETY TEST. This test is one of 3 that are most commonly used by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, better known as the NHTSA. Police who suspect a driver of a DWI/DUI will definitely at least most commonly use at least three, so the knowledge of this TEST is definitely beneficial.

2. The most important thing is that it is an examination of both physical and mental impairment combined. The officer will definitely be watching for both.

3. The TEST works in two parts.

First, the driver will be asked to stand heel-to-toe, with arms down by their side. The officer meanwhile will be administering further instructions. Among the instructions will be 9 steps along an imaginary line, then turn, and then take another 9 heal-to-toe steps back towards the officer. The officer will be watching the entire process and analyzing if the driver is impaired.

Secondly, the officer will use the "EIGHT SIGNS" part of the test. The officer will be looking for the drivers ability or inability to follow and balance during the directions, starting the test too soon, stepping off the imaginary line, the use of arms to balance, losing balance while turning, turning incorrectly, stopping while walking, or taking the wrong number of steps.

4. If the driver fails more than 2 or 3 of any of the above the officer will detect that the driver is over the limit of theBlood Alcohol Concentration, otherwise known as (BAC). Ninety nine percent of the time the driver will be arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DWI/DUI). One of the things that the officer must take into consideration is that the driver may have a sustained injury or even an illness. Being under the influence of alcohol causes impairment of both physical and mental conditions, so if the driver is arrested and it was only a physical impairment, the case can successfully be challenged in court by a DUI/DWI attorney. By physical impairment, the case can be challenged in many ways. For example, back or leg injuries, individuals over the age of 65, walking on uneven ground, walking in bad weather (rain, snow or wind), or even tthe type of shoes the driver is wearing such as high heels, etc. These are some of the factors just to name a few that make this test questionable at times.

IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE ULTIMATE PROTECTION AGAINST A FAULTY ARREST, WHICH IS WHY A DRIVER MUST HAVE PROPER LEGAL REPRESENTATION. SOMETIMES POLICE OFFICERS DON'T ADMINISTER WALK AND TURN TESTS CORRECTLY, OR DON'T INTERPRET THE RESULTS AS THEY SHOULD. CHICAGO CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY MITCH FURMAN AND ASSOCIATES RISE ABOVE THE REST WITH THOROUGH KNOWLEDGE OF THE LAW WITHIN THE GREATER CHICAGOLAND AREA. THE BEST WAY TO DEFEND YOURSELF AND CHALLENGE A DWI/DUI CHARGE IS TO CONSULT AND CONTACT OUR FIRM TODAY.