Washington State DUI Lawyer: The DUI Investigation Handbook

Washington State DUI Lawyer:  The DUI Investigation Handbook

The following is an excerpt from the recently published The DUI Investigation Handbook.  This most valuable DUI Investigation book details in its 145 pages the entire DUI Investigation process law enforcement officers use to detect and investigate DUI drivers.  The DUI Investigation Handbook is available at over 100 locations including Barnes and Noble and Amazon.com.  David N. Jolly is the author of 5 DUI books and the first DUI App for iTunes in the United States.  His next book, The Drug DUI Handbook, is due for release in September, 2011, and is the first book of its kind in the United States.  Look for excerpts in late August, 2011.

How to Interpret the Walk and Turn Test

Instructional Stage

Two clues apply during the "instructional stage" that occurs while the suspect is standing heel-to-toe and listening to the instructions:

• One clue that is observed by the officer is whether the subject fails to keep balance (i.e. suspect breaks away from the heel-to-toe stance). Swaying or using arms for balance is not considered a clue at this point; and

• The second clue observed by an officer prior to the walking stage is whether the subject starts walking too soon (i.e. suspect starts walking before you say "begin").

Walking Stage

The remaining six validated clues occur during the walking stage of the test. They are follows:

• Stops walking (i.e. the subject pauses for several seconds).

• Misses heel-to-toe (i.e. more than 1/2 inch gap).

• Steps off the line (i.e. the foot must be entirely off the line).

• Raises the arms while walking (i.e. more than 6 inches).

• Takes the wrong number of steps.

• Turns improperly.

Jolly, David N.  The DUI Investigation Handbook.  Outskirts Press, Inc.  Page53 (2011)

For information on your Washington State DUI or your Snohomish County DUI, King County DUI, Skagit County DUI, Island County DUI or Whatcom County DUI  please contact our Washington State DUI 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.