IL DUI Walk-And-Turn

Carbondale, IL criminal lawyer Brian Roberts has extensive training and knowledge in defending people charged with an Illinois DUI. The Walk-And-Turn test is part of the Standardized Field Sobriety Test training which Mr. Roberts has received.

The Walk-And-Turn (WAT) field sobriety test is designed to test whether you are capable of dividing your attention between physical and mental tasks. There are eight clues of impairment the officer is trained to watch for in this test:

1. Can’t balance during instructions
2. Starts too soon
3. Stops while walking
4. Doesn’t touch heel to toe
5. Steps off the line
6. Uses arms for balance
7. Improper turn (or loses balance on turn)
8. Wrong number of steps

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) claims that two or more clues indicates a BAC level of .08 or higher with a 79 percent accuracy rate. The studies that these rates arose from have never been peer reviewed, and it appears the original research conducted for these studies has since been destroyed. Thus, Illinois criminal lawyers are unable to challenge the validity of these claims.

There are still a number of challenges available to this test including, but not limited to, medical conditions with the ankles, knees, hips, back, or neck; head trauma at any point that affects balance (all serious head trauma affects balance regardless of how long ago that trauma occurred); improper instructions; improper scoring by the police officer; improper environment for conducting the tests; distractions such as passing traffic, poor weather, police officer moving during your performance; being more than 50 pounds overweight; and many more.

If you have been arrested for a Southern Illinois DUI contact Carbondale, IL criminal lawyer Brian Roberts for a free case evaluation. You only have days to challenge the suspension of your driver’s license after an Illinois DUI arrest. Don’t wait, call right now!