One-Leg Stand Test

Your Sacramento DUI attorney will tell you that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has three “standardized” sobriety tests that are administered in the field.  The one-leg stand test, which requires you to balance on one leg, is one of these three tests.  The other two are the “walk and turn” test and the “horizontal gaze nystagmus” test.

The officer administering the test will look for four different clues that may indicateimpairment:

1. The individual puts his or her foot down.
2. The individual hops.
3. The individual uses his or her arms (6 inches or more) in order to balance.
4. The individual sways from front to back or side to side.

Anyone exhibiting two clues or more is classified as having a 65% possibility of having more than a 0.10% blood alcohol concentration.

Your Sacramento DUI attorney is aware that in order to correctly administer the one-leg stand test, a non-slippery, level, hard, and dry surface is required.

Possible errors arise when the test is given to individuals with middle ear or leg or back problems, those who are older than 65 years of age, or people who are overweight by more than 50 pounds. Individuals who take the test wearing shoes with heels higher than two inches may also have problems with the test and should be allowed to take their shoes off.

If you need assistance with your DUI case and would like to talk with an experienced and competent Sacramento DUI attorney, please contact Param Pabla by calling (916) 285-7900.