Everett Lynnwood Snohomish County Drunk Driving DUI Lawyer: The Drug DUI Handbook

Everett Lynnwood Snohomish County Drunk Driving DUI Lawyer: The Drug DUI Handbook

Everett Lynnwood DUI / DWI / Drunk Driving Lawyers- Experienced, Successful, Affordable

(425) 493-1115

The following is an excerpt from the upcoming book “The Drug DUI Handbook,” due to be published in September, 2011.  Jolly, David N.  The Drug DUI Handbook.  Outskirts Press Inc. (2011)

Walk and Turn

The walk and turn test is a “divided attention” test that is designed to determine the subject’s balance, listening skills, and ability to follow instructions. In this test the participant stands in a heel-to-toe fashion with arms at their sides while a series of instructions are given by the officer. Following the instructional phase the suspect must then take nine heel-to toe steps along a line, turn in a prescribed manner, and then take another nine heel-to-toe steps back along the line. All of this must be done while counting the steps aloud and keeping the arms at the sides. The individual is informed not to stop walking until the test is completed.

NHTSA warns the officer that this test requires a “designated straight line and should be conducted on a reasonably dry, hard, level, non-slippery surface.” DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing, Student Manual. NHTSA; U.S. Department of Transportation. HS 178 R8/06, Page VIII- 11 (2006) Additionally, the officer is informed in the manual that original research indicated that individuals over the age of 65, and those with back, leg or middle ear problems had difficulty performing the test. Subjects wearing heels more than 2 inches high should be given the opportunity to remove their shoes. Id. Over the years however, some of the original instructions and provided information has been deleted from subsequent student manuals.

The walk and turn test has a maximum of eight observable clues in the DUI investigation context. The officer is also trained to observe and note any other noteworthy evidence while the driver is performing the test. Additionally the officers are advised to note how many times each of the eight clues appears, even though a clue may only be counted once despite it appearing more than one time.  NHTSA advises that if the driver exhibits at least two clues on the walk and turn test it should be considered evidence that they may be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

For information on your Washington State DUI / Drunk Driving, Snohomish County DUI, King County DUI, Skagit County DUI, Island County DUI or Whatcom County DUI  please contact our Washington State DUI drunk driving attorneys for a free consultation at 425-493-1115, email us at david@davidjollylaw.com, or check out our main website at http://www.washdui.com or www.mukilteodui.com, www.everett-dui.co, www.marysville-dui.com, www.dui-bothell.com, or www.anacortesdui.com.  We represent DUI clients in every court in Western Washington including Seattle DUI cases, Kirkland DUI cases, Redmond DUI cases, Shoreline DUI cases, Lynnwood DUI cases, Everett DUI cases, Mukilteo DUI cases, Marysville DUI cases, Mt. Vernon DUI cases, Anacortes DUI cases, and Bellingham DUI cases.

Author of The DUI Handbook for the Accused, DUI/DWI: The History of Driving Under the Influence, The DUI Investigation Handbook and The Drug DUI Handbook. 

Everett Lynnwood DUI / DWI / Drunk Driving Lawyers- Experienced, Successful, Affordable (425) 493-1115