The Administration of the One-Leg Stand Test - Liberty Law

The one-leg-stand test is one in which a suspect is required to stand on one leg while placing the other leg out in front of him or her. The police officer  must give the test in a certain manner for it to be valid.  Thus, if you believe that you were subjected to a test that was improperly administered, you may wish to seek the services of a skilled Salt Lake City DUI defense attorney to assist you.

Specifically, officers are required to give the test by first advising suspects to stand with their feet together and their arms down to their sides.  The suspects must then hold that position while the officer provides further instructions and ensures that they fully understand what is to be done.

Then, when the officer tells the suspects to start, they must raise one leg and hold it stiffly approximately six inches from the surface of the ground with their toes pointed forward.  While doing this, the suspects must demonstrate a proper one-legged stance and stare directly at the elevated foot, all while keeping their arms down to their sides and counting one thousand and one, one thousand and two, one thousand and three and so forth until told to stop.

The officer must also ensure that the test lasts for 30 seconds, and the suspects must keep track of the time. If you need a Salt Lake City DUI defense attorney, please call James Lee for a free consultation.