The Walk and Turn test is a divided attention test that requires physical and mental faculties. If you have any physical or mental ailment that could affect your ability to perform this test, you should let the officer know immediately. This can include things like ADD, ADHD, balance issues, surgeries, sprains, sore muscles, etc. If there is anything you think that may affect your performance, let the officer know.
This test has two stages: the Instruction Stage and the Walking Stage. The Instruction Stage divides your attention between balancing and processing the set of instructions that the officer gives you. The Walking Stage divides your attention between balancing, small muscle control and short-term memory. An officer will instruct you on this test and then demonstrate a portion of the test for you.
Tip: When an officer demonstrates this test, he or she will only demonstrate 3 steps out and back, but you must take 9 steps out and back as instructed. The instructions are as follows:
Instruction Stage:
Walking Stage:
The Clues on the Walk and Turn
Just as the test must be administered by the police the same way every time, it must also be interpreted in a standardized manner. The interpretation of your performance on this test is determined by the presence of eight different clues:
If you exhibit any these eight clues, the officer will mark it as a sign of intoxication. Generally, exhibiting the same clue multiple times will still only count as one clue. If you score two or more of these clues, an officer can make the determination that you have lost the normal use of your mental and/or physical faculties. In other words, with just two clues, the officer will testify that you were intoxicated.
It will be important in fighting your DWI charge that you are represented by a criminal defense attorney who knows this test better than your arresting officer.
***
This content was originally posted at https://www.versustexas.com/criminal/walk-and-turn-test. The writer retains all copyrights.