Albuquerque Dui Attorney Shares An Outline For Your Events Journal

Creating an events journal regarding every aspect of your DUI is one of the best ways to begin your successful defense. Journaling remembrances concerning your case will assist your DUI Attorney in helping to defend you, and may result in a better ending.

The defense strategy that you take and your familiarity with the law will both help you win your case or lessen your charges. Every DUI case has its factual and legal differences. Your defense relies upon your understanding of the circumstances surrounding your arrest.

Here is what your Albuquerque DUI Attorney will tell you to do: Write a journal of the events of the 24 hours preceding your arrest. You should list your whereabouts, the amount of sleep you got, and everything you ate or drank, along with any and all other details that might be pertinent. Use the following as a guide. The more details you record in your journal, the more helpful it will be. You will be able to communicate well with your Albuquerque DUI attorney you have chosen, and together, you will be able to create a good defense.

Sleeping Patterns:

1. At what time did you go to bed the previous night?

2. How much sleep did you get that evening?

Food and Drinks:

1. What did you eat for dinner the previous night?

2. If you had snacks before bed, what did you eat?

3. What did you eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner on the day that you were arrested?

4. Did you snack in between meals that day? What kind of snacks were they?

Record Who, What, When & Where:

1. Who was with you before being stopped?

2. Describe your activities before being stopped.

3. Was anyone else in the vehicle when you were stopped?

4. List the places you went along with all of your actions in each place on that day. (Record the time of all events) Are there any witnesses?

5. What are the names of the police officers that arrested you and interacted with you at the station?

Arrest:

1. Be sure to know the time, date, and location of your arrest.

2. Did you get the badge number of the officer that arrested you and performed the field sobriety tests?

3. Did you get the badge number and name of the police officer that performed the chemical test?

4. Did you resist these tests? If yes, did the record show these facts before being arrested? Did you speak to the arresting officer(s)?

5. What were you wearing during your arrest? Were you dressed nicely? Did you notice anything unusual about your wardrobe that day? Were you wearing special shoes? Did you wear any jewelry?

6. Were you wearing shoes that prevented you from walking correctly or easily? If yes, give some details.

Advisement of Rights:

1. Did they inform you that you had a right to deny participation in chemical tests? Did they inform you of any consequences of refusing?

2. Did they inform you that you could speak with an attorney before taking any chemical tests? Did they inform you that you had the right to an attorney during questioning, chemical tests, or sobriety tests?

Vehicle Status and Road/Weather Conditions:

1. Give details about the street that you were on such as amount of lanes, width, type of pavement, traffic signs, etc. Was the street smooth, rough, bumpy, etc?

2. How was traffic (heavy, light, etc)?

3. What was the weather like (clear, cloudy, rainy, etc)?

4. Describe the year, model, make, license plate number, VIN serial number, and condition etc of the car that you were driving. Does your vehicle have any special features?

Medical Conditions:

1. Were you under the care of a doctor at the time you were arrested? If you were, why?

2. Did you take any prescription drugs or other medications? If you do, what is the medication? How much do you take and how often? Why do you take that medication? Submit all medications, etc. Over-the-counter remedies such as ibuprofen, aspirin, antihistamines, cough syrups, and so on should be listed. Also, list controlled substances such as amphetamines, barbiturates, marijuana, and cocaine.

3. Do you have a disability that might cause you do have difficulty balancing or that might cause you to walk with a limp?

4. Do you suffer from any speech ailments or impediments that may contribute to your slurring?