One Leg Stand Test Clues: What Officers Look For in a Georgia DUI Stop

What Is the One Leg Stand Test?

The one leg stand test is one of three Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs) developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to help officers evaluate whether a driver may be impaired. It is a divided-attention test. That means it measures a driver's ability to balance while following instructions and counting aloud at the same time. Impaired individuals often struggle to split their focus between a physical task and a mental task.

During a DUI one leg stand evaluation, officers watch for specific indicators – called "clues" – that signal possible impairment. NHTSA has identified exactly four clues. The presence of two or more clues suggests to the officer that the driver's alcohol concentration may be at or above 0.08 grams, the per se limit for driving under the influence in Georgia for drivers 21 and over. Lower limits apply to drivers under 21, at 0.02 grams, and to commercial drivers, at 0.04 grams. Understanding what these clues are and how officers score them is important for anyone facing a Georgia DUI charge based on field sobriety evidence.

How Officers Administer the One Leg Stand Test Step by Step

NHTSA requires officers to follow a standardized two-stage procedure when administering this test. Departing from these steps can affect the reliability of the results.

Instructions stage. The officer asks the driver to stand with feet together and arms at the sides. The officer then explains the entire test before the driver begins. The driver must not start until the officer says to do so. This stage tests whether the driver can listen, process instructions, and maintain a stationary position at the same time.

Balance and counting stage. The officer instructs the driver to raise one foot – either foot – approximately six inches off the ground. The raised foot should stay parallel to the ground. The driver must look at the raised foot and count aloud in a specific cadence: "one thousand and one, one thousand and two, one thousand and three," and so on. The officer times the test for 30 seconds.

NHTSA's training manual also requires that the test be administered on a reasonably dry, hard, level, and non-slippery surface. Conditions must allow the driver to safely perform the test. An officer who asks a driver to perform the one leg stand on a gravel shoulder, a grassy slope, or a rain-soaked parking lot may not be following standardized protocol.

The 4 One Leg Stand Clues Officers Look For

NHTSA has validated exactly four clues for one leg stand scoring. Officers are trained to observe and document each clue during the 30-second counting phase. A clue is scored as either present or absent – there is no partial credit. Each clue carries equal weight in the officer's scoring.

Clue 1: Swaying While Balancing

Swaying refers to a noticeable side-to-side or back-and-forth movement of the body while the foot is raised. This is not the same as minor trembling or small postural adjustments that most people make when standing on one foot. The sway must be distinct enough for the officer to observe it clearly.

Officers are trained to position themselves at a safe distance – typically a few feet away – so they can see the driver's full body. From that vantage point, they watch for a rocking or swaying motion that suggests the driver is struggling to maintain balance. Windy conditions, uneven ground, and passing traffic can all contribute to body movement that may look like swaying but has nothing to do with alcohol impairment.

Clue 2: Using Arms for Balance

This clue is scored when the driver raises one or both arms more than six inches from the sides to maintain balance. The NHTSA standard requires arms to remain at the driver's sides throughout the test. Any raising beyond six inches counts as a clue.

In practice, raising the arms is a natural reflex when a person feels unsteady. The six-inch threshold is relatively narrow. A driver who briefly lifts an arm even a small distance above that mark can be scored for this clue. Officers document whether the arm movement was sustained or momentary, though either one satisfies the clue under NHTSA criteria.

Clue 3: Hopping

Hopping means the driver must hop on the planted foot to maintain balance. This is distinct from swaying. With swaying, the planted foot stays in contact with the ground. Hopping involves the planted foot actually leaving the surface.

Officers watch for any instance where the driver bounces or hops to keep from falling. Even a single hop counts as a clue. Hopping often occurs when the driver begins to lose balance and reflexively jumps to reposition. Factors like footwear, surface conditions, and physical limitations can all contribute to hopping that has no connection to impairment.

Clue 4: Putting the Foot Down

This clue is scored when the driver puts the raised foot down one or more times during the 30-second count. Each time the foot touches the ground counts toward this clue, though the clue itself is scored only once – either present or absent.

NHTSA instructs officers that if the driver puts the foot down three or more times during the 30-second period, the officer should discontinue the test and record the clues observed to that point. Georgia's DUI statute says nothing about roadside balance tests and sets no passing or failing score for one. Stopping the test early is an NHTSA scoring practice, and what the officer wrote down is evidence the state offers, not a legal finding.

How Many Clues Mean a Failed One Leg Stand Test?

Under NHTSA standards, two or more clues out of the four is treated as an indication that the driver may be at or above the per se limit of 0.08 grams. NHTSA draws that from its validation studies and presents it as a probability. It is an indication, not proof of impairment.

NHTSA's own validation research reports an error rate for this test rather than certainty. A meaningful share of the drivers who show two or more clues are not in fact at or above 0.08 grams. That margin of error matters for a test that can lead to an arrest.

When an officer observes two or more clues, it may contribute to the officer's probable cause to make a DUI arrest. However, the one leg stand test alone is rarely the sole basis for an arrest. Officers typically combine results from all three SFSTs – the horizontal gaze nystagmus, the walk and turn, and the one leg stand – along with their other observations to form an overall assessment. A defense attorney can challenge whether the clues were accurately observed and whether they actually indicate impairment rather than some other factor.

Factors That Can Cause a Sober Person to Show Clues

Many conditions unrelated to alcohol or drugs can cause a completely sober person to display one leg stand clues. Defense attorneys routinely raise these factors when challenging field sobriety evidence.

Age. NHTSA's own manual notes that the one leg stand test may be inappropriate for individuals over 65. Balance naturally declines with age, and older drivers may show clues that reflect aging rather than impairment.

Weight. Individuals who are 50 or more pounds overweight may have difficulty balancing on one leg. Carrying extra weight shifts the body's center of gravity and can make the test significantly harder.

Medical conditions. Back problems, leg injuries, knee replacements, inner-ear disorders, and neurological conditions can all affect balance. A driver with an inner-ear condition may sway noticeably regardless of sobriety.

Footwear. High heels, boots, sandals, and work shoes can all make balancing on one foot more difficult. NHTSA's manual allows drivers to remove their shoes, but officers do not always offer this option.

Roadside conditions. Uneven pavement, gravel shoulders, sloped surfaces, wet roads, and cracked sidewalks can all affect performance. NHTSA requires a hard, level, non-slippery surface, but real-world traffic stops often happen on surfaces that fall short of that standard.

Environmental factors. Wind, cold temperatures, poor lighting, rain, and the distraction of passing vehicles at highway speed can all interfere with a driver's ability to concentrate and balance. Officer-induced stress – flashing lights, an authoritative tone, the fear of arrest – may also affect performance.

These factors go to how much weight the officer's observations deserve, not to whether the state may offer them in evidence. However, they can significantly undermine the reliability of those observations, depending on the circumstances.

Challenging One Leg Stand Test Results in a Georgia DUI Case

One leg stand results are not bulletproof evidence. Several avenues exist for challenging this test in a Georgia DUI case.

Officer deviation from NHTSA protocols. The Standardized Field Sobriety Tests are called "standardized" for a reason. When an officer departs from the prescribed administration procedures – giving incomplete instructions, failing to demonstrate the test, timing it incorrectly, or administering it on an improper surface – the results may lose their scientific foundation. Georgia's DUI statute sets no procedure for administering a roadside balance test, so the argument rests on NHTSA's own manual and on the facts of the stop, and departures from the standardized procedure go to the weight a judge or jury gives the evidence.

Improper roadside conditions. If the officer administered the test on a sloped, gravelly, or wet surface, a criminal defense attorney can argue that the conditions – not impairment – caused the clues the officer observed.

Medical or physical limitations. A driver's documented medical conditions, injuries, age, or weight may explain the observed clues without any connection to impairment. Medical records and expert testimony can support this challenge.

Subjectivity of the officer's observations. The one leg stand relies on the officer's judgment about what constitutes "noticeable" swaying or whether an arm rose more than six inches. Dashcam and body camera footage often tells a different story than the officer's written report. Defense counsel typically reviews arrest video frame by frame to compare the officer's documented clues against what the footage actually shows.

Voluntary nature of the test. Georgia's implied consent statute covers only the state-administered chemical test of blood, breath, urine, or other bodily substances that an officer requests after a DUI arrest. No Georgia statute requires a driver to attempt a roadside balance exercise. The fact that a driver attempted the test and showed clues does not mean the driver had to take the test in the first place. This distinction can be relevant to the overall defense strategy.

Speak With an Atlanta DUI Defense Attorney

If you were arrested for DUI in Georgia based in part on one leg stand test results, those results may not be as strong as the officer's report suggests. An experienced DUI defense attorney can review the arrest video, examine whether the officer followed NHTSA protocols, and identify potential challenges to the field sobriety evidence.

William C. Head, PC focuses on Georgia DUI defense and is familiar with how Atlanta-area courts handle field sobriety test evidence. Every case is different, and results depend on the specific facts and circumstances involved.

Contact William C. Head, PC to schedule a free consultation. A qualified DUI attorney can evaluate your case and explain your options.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Many Clues Are There on the One Leg Stand Test?

NHTSA recognizes exactly four clues on the one leg stand test: swaying while balancing, using arms for balance, hopping, and putting the foot down. Each clue is scored as either present or absent. Two or more clues suggest possible impairment under NHTSA's scoring criteria.

What Happens If You Fail the One Leg Stand Test?

Showing two or more clues may contribute to an officer's decision to arrest you for DUI. However, the test result alone is not conclusive proof of impairment. Officers typically consider all three SFSTs along with other observations. A defense attorney can challenge the accuracy and reliability of the test results.

Do I Have to Take the One Leg Stand Test in Georgia?

No Georgia statute requires you to perform a roadside balance exercise during a traffic stop. Georgia's implied consent law deems a driver to have consented to a state-administered chemical test of blood, breath, urine, or other bodily substances after a DUI arrest, not to field sobriety exercises. Refusing that chemical test is a separate matter and carries a one-year driver's license suspension.

Can a Sober Person Fail the One Leg Stand Test?

Yes. NHTSA's own validation research reports a substantial error rate for this test. Age, weight, medical conditions, footwear, uneven surfaces, weather, and stress can all cause a sober person to display clues. The test measures balance and divided attention – not sobriety directly.

How Long Does the One Leg Stand Test Last?

The one leg stand test lasts 30 seconds. The officer times the driver from the moment the foot is raised until the 30-second mark. If the driver puts the foot down three or more times before the 30 seconds expire, NHTSA tells the officer to discontinue the test and record the clues observed. Georgia law sets no passing or failing score for this test.