CAN YOUR SHOES CONVICT YOU OF DUI?

Wearing the wrong shoes can affect the way you walk, give you back pain and damage your performance on field sobriety tests!

If you are stopped for DUI in Illinois, an officer will likely ask you to perform two standard tests: 1) the walk and turn, and 2) the one-leg stand. For the walk and turn, you must take nine steps along an often imaginary line, turn using small steps, then walk nine steps back again. For the one-leg stand, you must hold your leg about six inches off the floor while counting to 30.

Either test can be skewed by your shoes. Shoes that are too tight, too loose or too high could throw off your balance and thus your performance. Your testing can also be affected by knee injuries or foot problems. An experienced judge may recognize the limitations you suffered due to your footwear.

If you have been charged with DUI or a similar crime, contact an experienced DUI attorney immediately. An attorney can review your case for its best possible defense. If your driving, general appearance and breathalyzer are otherwise satisfactory, an attorney may be able to discredit the results of your field sobriety tests in order to win a not guilty verdict.

If you have questions about this or another related Illinois criminal or traffic matter, please contact Matt Keenan at 847-568-0160 or email matt@mattkeenanlaw.com.

(Besides Skokie, Matt Keenan also serves the communities of Arlington Heights, Chicago, Deerfield, Des Plaines, Evanston, Glenview, Morton Grove, Mount Prospect, Niles, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Rolling Meadows, Wilmette and Winnetka.)