If you have been pulled over and arrested for driving under the influence, you are probably wondering what happens with, and what is included in, that police report. It is important to be mindful of the importance of a police report when arrested for DUI. Because the arrests usually occur when only the driver and police officer are present, the police report becomes the most important document in the case. In addition, because the arresting officer fills out the report, the weight of the document is much greater than the driver’s words. This DUI police report is a compilation of the events and tests that took place before, during, and after the arrest.

The materials recorded in the document are listed below:

• The reason the officer pulled you over
• Objective observations about your driving maneuvers, such as reckless driving, weaving through lanes, or any other unusual or illegal driving movements
• The driver’s physical appearance, such as watery eyes, baggy eyes, glossy eyes, unkempt clothes, etc.
• The driver’s odor, such as alcohol excreted from the pores, the scent of alcohol on the breath, etc.
• The driver’s speech, such as slurred language, incompetence with understanding, the inability to speak correctly, etc.
• Field sobriety test results, such as the horizontal eye gaze nystagmus, the test to walk a straight line, etc.
• Answers to questions asked by the officer, such as how much alcohol the driver has consumed before driving, where the driver is headed, etc.
• Any chemical test results
• The time and place the driver is arrested
• The jail at which the driver is booked

Because the police report contains fine details recorded by the arresting officer, it is important to review the police report when it becomes available. It is important that the arrested driver checks the document to see if there were any inconsistencies throughout the document to avoid unnecessary punishments.

When Should I Involve a DUI Defense Attorney?

If you have been arrested for DUI, it is important to contact a DUI defense lawyer immediately. By doing so, you ensure that your police report has been written correctly and consistently. Hiring an experienced Ventura DUI defense attorney may put the advantage on your side when going to court for a DUI charge.

Don’t wait. Protect your rights today. Contact the Ventura DUI defense lawyers at Lessem & Newstat, LLP for your free consultation.