DWI Police Reports
Have you recently been arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI)? If so, you may want to contact an experienced defense lawyer. A lawyer can look at your DWI police report to determine whether you were treated fairly and if your rights were upheld.There have been many reports of officers using pre-written police reports in DWI cases. This means that the officer writes out a number of fake reports that list the common observations one would make in a DWI case, such as driving patterns, the driver’s appearance (i.e., bloodshot eyes, slurred speech), and failed field sobriety tests. Then, all the officer has to do is fill in the names and dates when a drunk-driving arrest is made.
In one jurisdiction, dozens of DUI suspects were released because officers were using pre-written police reports. One officer used the same phrase in at least ten reports filed within a six-month period, stating that the suspect stumbled, swayed, and had a three-to-five inch orbital rotation. It was later discovered that other officers used the same phrasing in their police reports. One police report even described a suspect as “he/she.”
Because police reports as used as an official record in a DWI case, this is especially troubling for a DWI suspect. Using pre-written police reports creates a false account of the drunk-driving arrest. A skilled defense attorney may be able to obtain copies of the officer’s other DWI reports within a certain timeframe to determine whether or not the he or she is using pre-written reports. If the defense attorney can prove that the officer’s reports were pre-written, it will definitely diminish the officer’s testimony.
It is important to fight your DWI charges. The penalties for a drunk-driving conviction may include probation, community services, loss of driving privileges, fines, and even jail time. Your employment may also be at stake, as many employers require a clean background check.
If you have concerns about your DWI police report, you should contact a DWI defense lawyer as soon as possible. An attorney can discuss your case with you and walk you through the steps you should take next.
