Have you been arrested and charged with drunk driving in California? If so, you know how scary the whole experience can be? Upon seeing flashing lights behind you, it\’s not uncommon for a person\’s heart rate to increase and a general level of nervousness and fear sets in. This type of emotional response can understandably make even the most basic tasks difficult to execute. When asked to participate in a field sobriety test, your ability to pass these tests may be compromised with or without alcohol.
In fact, FieldSobrietyTests.org indicates that the one-legged stand test alone is only 65-percent accurate in determining intoxication in a driver. When administering this or any other field sobriety test, an officer must follow strict guidelines as developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Evaluating your test process can be an important part of your defense.
One thing an officer is required to do is to demonstrate the one-legged stand test while giving instructions. You should then be asked to confirm if you understand before being instructed to perform the test yourself. You can be considered to have failed the test if at least two things are noted during the procedure: you place your raised foot on the ground, you hop, you use your arms to maintain balance or you sway.
If you would like to learn more about the one-legged stand test during a drunk driving arrest process, please feel free to visit the field sobriety test page of our California criminal defense website.