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I have a genuine question about this. I think most all people use their hands to balance when walking heel to toe on a narrow beam or line, especially if their foot is wider than the beam or line.
I have genuine concern that this is used as an indicator... using arms or hands, to balance --- this is a reflex much like when a cat is falling it will react in such manner to land on its feet. Walking a beam or curb or line that is narrow, watch any kid do this. The hands go up. Even at policeman /fireman competitions or in any athletics event, where the atmosphere is friendly, and contestants are required to walk a certain distance on a beam or line or board that is smaller than the width of the foot. The participant gets on the narrow walk, and the hands go up. The arms naturally lift and gyrate.
I think it is mischievous to use that as a known give away or a "dead give away." I am genuine in this assessment. I seems like a trick of language. Everyone uses their hands and arms when trying to balance. It is a natural human reflex. Kids and sober people alike.
Also, I noticed the officer said start. And then he was rushing in closely, as to be a slight menace for that exercise. Pressing closely and speaking hurriedly into his mic, as if he was trying to cause Boston to fall off the line. Overall, I question this measure exclusively and the manner in which the officer conducted this aspect of the test. Officer spent a lot of time explaining it, and telling Boston not to start until he instructed him to start. Then he chased Boston and acted to intimidate psychologically, when he said start. It is a subtle chasing, not like a car chase at high speeds. But followed him with a rush of hurried steps and accelerated talking and whispering. Crowded in closer as if he was trying to will him off the line.
The fact that the officer entered the area, instead of staying put, at the start, shows a potential error in giving this aspect of the test. When he entered the area at the side of the line, as opposed to staying at one of the ends, it shows the officers willingness to create a visual imbalance on one side of the participant.
The officer is suppose to stay back on one end of the line or the other. The officer is not suppose to rush the subject or accelerate their speaking while the subject is attempting to execute that component of the test. The officer is not suppose to alternate between talking and whispering while subject is taking the test. There are only a handful of things the officer can do wrongly in giving this particular part of the test. It seems like he was trying to mess up Boston and pressure his failure at this point.
When considering the natural reflex of all humans to use their hands or arms when balancing ... I believe is questionable logic and potentially misleading in methodology to say the officer did a good job here in this component.
Having said all that, I do think officers have a tough job, trying to keep drunk drivers off the road. It is important work and they do have to error on the side of other people's safety; not the driver in question.
I have this main question: On whose authority is not using hands or arms for balance a sign of sure sobriety? It is my personal experience, that any sober person has trouble doing 9 steps in a row, without using their hands or arms at some point. I just tried it, sober as the day. I started off confident the first try, but around 7th or 8th step, started to teeter... up when the hands. Second went better, but I wondered if my arms and hands were relaxed enough. Third attempt started out with a teeter ... up went the hands.
It is a natural reflex.
Give the same test to 12 kids under the age of 9 and you will see, by the "dead-giveaway" logic quoted above, that we have a lot of kids under the influence in our country. Good thing the kids are not old enough to drive.
If they use their hands or arms for balance, we can safely presume the kids would have to be under the influence of something. Let me be the last to say, they probably are. Probably under the influence of a natural human reflex. Do the same test with a camera on, and then chase in behind with hurried steps or rush of language and some covered whispers as if talking to someone not in the area, and I bet more kids will use their hands or arms reflexively, to help keep their balance.
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