Driving Under the Influence of Drugs One Leg Stand

Although most drivers know it is a crime to operate a vehicle while intoxicated, thousands are arrested for driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) each year. In addition to his or her driving behaviors, much of the evidence used to support a DUID charge is often based on the driver’s performance during field sobriety tests such as the one-leg stand.

The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) has approved the use of three standardized tests for helping an officer determine whether a driver is under the influence of drugs. If an officer suspects you are intoxicated, he or she may therefore ask you to perform a simple exercise known as the one-leg stand test.

To successfully complete the one-leg stand, you will be required to balance yourself on one leg while looking down at the ground and counting aloud for thirty seconds. Your arms should also remain at your side for the duration of this exercise.

As you are performing the one-leg stand, the officer will closely observe your actions to look for any signs of intoxication. Swaying, struggling for balance, and hopping are some common behaviors that can lead an officer to believe you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Likewise, if you raise your arms, put your foot down, or simply cannot complete the test, the officer may determine you are intoxicated.

If you do not pass the one-leg stand test, the officer will most likely arrest you for DUID, and a blood or urine test will be conducted. It is important to know that, unlike other traffic violations, DUID is a serious criminal offense. As a result, the penalties for a DUID conviction may include expensive fines, an automatic license suspension, and even jail time. 

Fortunately, because one-leg stand tests are very subjective, an experienced attorney may be able to challenge your results in court. Your performance is, after all, based on the observations of an officer who already suspected you of driving under the influence. In addition, if the test was not administered properly—on solid, flat, dry ground with adequate lighting—your results may be inadmissible in court.

If you were recently charged with driving under the influence after performing a one-leg stand test, make sure you discuss your case with an experienced attorney in your area immediately.