North Carolina Walk-and-Turn Test Defenses

In Charlotte, there are three field sobriety tests that North Carolina police officers administer in order to determine whether a DWI (driving while intoxicated) arrest should be made. The tests that are used are: the walk-and-turn test, the one-leg stand test, and the horizontal-gaze nystagmus test.

If you have recently been arrested after failing the walk-and-turn test, you should contact an experienced DWI lawyer. A skilled defense lawyer can challenge the results of your field sobriety test.

When administered correctly, the walk-and-turn test is 68 percent accurate in estimating if a driver’s blood alcohol content (BAC) is 0.10 percent or higher. However, this test is subjective, and there are several factors that can affect your test performance. The walk-and-turn test must be administered on a dry, level, hard surface or the test should not be given.

During the test, the officer is looking for eight clues. The officer begins watching for clues even during the instruction phase of the test. While the officer is giving the instructions, he or she will ask the driver to stand with one foot in front of the other. If the driver cannot stay balanced, or starts the test early, the officer will count these as clues.

To perform the walk-and-turn test, the driver must walk nine heel-to-toe steps, pivot, and walk nine steps back in the same manner. If the driver pauses, misses steps, steps off of the designated line, uses his or her arms to balance, does not turn correctly, and does not take nine steps back and forth, the officer will count these as clues. Exhibiting two or more of these signs is enough to be arrested for drunk driving.

There are several factors that can make it hard to pass this test. People over the age of 65, more than 50 pounds overweight, or with physical disabilities should not take the test. If the lighting is not adequate, it also makes it harder to perform the test to the officer’s satisfaction.

Don’t let a failed walk-and-turn test turn into a drunk-driving conviction. Meet with a Charlotte DWI lawyer who is experienced in handling driving while intoxicated cases. Contact an attorney today to discuss which walk-and-turn test defense should be used in your case.

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