1. Write everything down
DUI cases are won and lost on the details. Write down all you can remember, no matter how unimportant it seems. Do this as soon as possible because your memory will fade as time goes by and you could forget something important. Your Denver DUI lawyers will have the best chance of protecting your rights when you give them the most information you can.
Try to answer at least the following:
• Where and when were you stopped?
• Why did the officer say he or she stopped you?
• Did you take a breath test, and if so, what did the machine look like?
• What did you tell the officer about what you drank and ate?
• What tests did they do (one-leg stand, eye tracking, walk and turn)?
Jot down all you can remember from the stop, but don’t share this with anyone other than your attorney.
2. Request a hearing with the DMV
When you are charged with DUI, you have three options offered to you for testing: take the blood test, take a breath test or refuse all tests, which is known as a refusal. If you submit to the breath test and score .08 or higher or if you refuse the test, you will be given a sheet that says “Express Consent Affidavit.” If you got one of these, you have just seven days from your arrest to request a DMV hearing. If you provided blood, you will receive a notice from the DMV saying you can request a hearing once your blood results come in if they are .08 or higher.
If you did not surrender your license when you were arrested, you have to surrender it to the DMV for a temporary driving permit. This permit allows you to drive until your hearing, which should be scheduled by 60 days from your request date.
3. Hire Denver DUI lawyers
One of the most crucial decisions you will make after your arrest is the selection of your attorney. An experienced attorney with the knowledge of the science in the tests used in DUI cases is ideal since the tests are usually the state’s main evidence in these types of cases.
Meet with a few attorneys before you make your final decision. Ask them about their experience with DUI cases in Colorado before you decide, and make sure you chose an attorney you are comfortable with. He or she will be your guide throughout the case, so you want to choose someone who you feel confident will act in your best interests. The right attorney will answer your questions and be upfront about your case and his or her fees.
