When administering the one-leg stand test an officer will instruct a suspect to stand with one foot approximately six inches from the ground and count out loud to a specific number. Most officers instruct the suspect to perform the test for 30 seconds and to count out loud by thousands (one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two, etc.). Generally officers will allow a suspect to choose which leg they stand on. For individuals who have difficulty with balance, the one-leg stand test can pose an especial challenge under the pressure and environment of a roadside stop.
How is the One-Leg Stand Test Conducted?
While each officer will conduct a test with slight variation, officers are trained in the administration of field sobriety tests and for the most part the administration of the one-leg stand test is similar between different police officers. As with most of the field sobriety tests, the one-leg stand test has been designed and promulgated by the Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). NHTSA instructs officers to look for four indicators of impairment on the test:
(1) swaying while balancing,
(2) using arms to balance,
(3) hopping to maintain balance, and
(4) putting the foot down.
The attorneys are Henson Pachuta, PLLC are experienced with DUI defense and offer free consultations. With information about the details of your case, we can help to explain the challenges you can make to the field sobriety tests. Contact us by phone at 703-822-4701 or come to our office at 4011 Chain Bridge Road, Suite 200, Fairfax, Virginia 22030.