Walk and Turn Flashcards

When the Walk and Turn test is conducted at night on a roadside, what environmental factor most directly threatens test validity according to NHTSA?

Answer: An uneven or slippery surface

An uneven, slippery, or soft surface directly compromises the suspect's ability to perform heel-to-toe walking, which is the core physical demand of the WAT.

A suspect voluntarily tells the officer before the Walk and Turn test that they had knee surgery six months ago. How should the officer handle this?

Answer: Document the condition and consider it when evaluating performance

Officers should document any reported medical conditions and factor them into the overall evaluation, as they may explain clues that are not alcohol-related.

During testimony, a defense attorney asks why the officer allowed the suspect to continue after observing the first clue. What is the correct answer?

Answer: The test is completed in full so all clues can be observed and scored

The full test must be completed regardless of early clues observed so the officer can collect all eight possible scored clues for a complete and fair evaluation.

What must the officer do if the suspect asks a question in the middle of the Walk and Turn walking phase?

Answer: Tell the suspect not to stop and to continue walking

The officer should instruct the suspect to keep walking without stopping, as interruptions during the test affect clue validity; a stop at this point would still be scored.

Which of the following scenarios would generate the MOST clues on a single Walk and Turn test?

Answer: Suspect loses balance during instructions, starts too soon, steps off line, misses heel-to-toe, and raises arms

Losing balance during instructions, starting too soon, stepping off the line, missing heel-to-toe, and raising arms are each separate scored clues, totaling five clues.

The Walk and Turn test is classified by NHTSA as which category of divided-attention test?

Answer: Both psychomotor and cognitive simultaneously

The WAT requires the suspect to simultaneously perform physical movements (psychomotor) and follow/count instructions (cognitive), making it a divided-attention test.

Which of the following actions by a suspect during the Walk and Turn turn phase does NOT constitute the 'improper turn' clue?

Answer: Turning slowly using small steps around the front foot

Turning slowly using small steps around the front foot is the correct technique and does not score as an improper turn clue.