The One-Leg-Stand Test

If you’ve been arrested and charged for DUI, the arresting officer probably used the one-leg stand test in order to gauge your sobriety. This is because the one-leg-stand test is one of the three standardized field sobriety tests, which are the horizontal nystagmus test, the walk and turn test, and the one-leg-stand test. These tests are used because, in a 1975 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) study, they were the only three that could be demonstrated to be reasonably accurate.

In the one-leg-stand test, the arresting officer asks the defendant to stand on one leg and then checks for four signs that are known to be indicative of inebriation: swaying while trying to balance, using the arms to balance, hopping up and down, and failure to keep one foot up. If two or more of these signs are found, there is a 65% chance of the defendant having a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.10.

However, this assumes that the officer is administering the test correctly. Many officers make mistakes when administering this test, most often by failing to find a suitable surface to administer the test on. The test needs to be administered on a dry, level, and relatively solid surface in order to be accurate.

Furthermore, there are many medical conditions that could result in false positives, including back, leg, or inner-ear problems. People who are obese or over the age of 65 also tend to have trouble with this test.

Make sure you have a skilled Sacramento DUI defense attorney who is can use all these facts to your advantage. Call Sacramento DUI defense attorney Param Pabla today for an initial consultation.