When a driver is pulled over by police on suspicion of driving under the influence, there are certain steps the officer will take in order to make that determination. One of the tools that law enforcement will use is requesting that the driver submit to field sobriety tests. This is especially true if there is no odor of alcohol, open container, or any other obvious signs that the driver had been drinking. If the driver submits to these tests and fails (in the officer’s opinion), the officer now has grounds to demand the driver submit to a breathalyzer test.
The following is a brief overview of those tests. If you have been charged with drunk driving, make sure you contact a DWI defense attorney right away.
Walk and Turn
For the walk and turn test, the driver is asked to take nine steps, heel to toe, in a straight line, with their arms to the side, then turn around and take nine steps back. The officer will look for specific clues that suggest the driver is impaired, such as stumbling, swaying, or losing balance.
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