Walk and Turn Flashcards

A suspect with a documented inner ear disorder asks to take the Walk and Turn test seated. What should the officer do?

Answer: Note the condition and consider whether the WAT is an appropriate test

Officers should consider medical and physical conditions that may affect balance and document them; conditions like inner ear disorders can affect WAT validity and should be noted.

During the Walk and Turn, the suspect stops after 4 steps on the outbound walk, pauses for 3 seconds, then continues. How is this scored?

Answer: One clue: stops while walking

Any pause during the walking phase that is not instructed is scored as the 'stops while walking' clue, regardless of duration.

What is the correct number of steps the suspect must take on the return walk of the Walk and Turn test?

Answer: 9

The suspect must take exactly nine heel-to-toe steps both on the outbound walk and on the return walk.

Which phase of the Walk and Turn test allows the officer to observe clues even before the suspect takes a single step?

Answer: The instruction phase

During the instruction phase, the officer can observe whether the suspect loses balance while holding the heel-to-toe starting position.

A suspect on the Walk and Turn test steps off the line twice on the outbound walk and once on the return. How many times is the 'steps off the line' clue counted in scoring?

Answer: 1 time

Each of the eight WAT clues is scored only once regardless of how many times the behavior occurs during the test.

Which of the following best describes an 'improper turn' clue during the Walk and Turn test?

Answer: The suspect spins around rather than using small steps around the front foot

An improper turn occurs when the suspect pivots or spins rather than keeping one foot in place and taking a series of small steps with the other foot to turn.

Under NHTSA standards, what footwear issue may justify allowing a suspect to remove shoes before the Walk and Turn test?

Answer: Heels higher than 2 inches

NHTSA guidelines recommend that suspects wearing heels higher than 2 inches be offered the option to remove their shoes before performing the Walk and Turn test.