One of the methods utilized by officers in determining whether a person is intoxicated is known
as the 9-step walk-and-turn. This test is designed to test a driver’s coordination and balance, and to a lesser extent, test the driver’s ability to follow instructions. Usually, when someone thinks of a “field sobriety test,” the walk-and-turn is what comes to mind.
The logistics of the test involve asking a person to walk heel-to-toe along an invisible straight line for 9-steps, then to turn around and do the exact same thing backwards. Further, the suspected DWI delinquent will be asked to count the steps, as he or she walks them.
The officer is supposed to observe and ensure the following:
- That the heel actually touches the toe, how close to a straight line the driver walks;
- How stable the driver is as he is walking;
- The ability of the driver to count the numbers while completing the walk; and
- Whether the driver is following the directions exactly as the officer has given them.
