Investigation of the Case and DWI Discovery

• Author: Deandra M. Grant/Kimberly Griffin Tucker
• Pages: 59-88

2-1

CHAPTER 2

INVESTIGATION OF THE

CASE AND DWI DISCOVERY

I. General Points

§2:01 DWI Complexities

§2:02 The Basic Offense

§2:03 The State’s Burden

§2:04 The Intoxication Element

§2:05 The Pieces of the Case

II. The Client’s Version

§2:10 Use an Initial Interview Form

§2:11 Blank First Page

§2:12 Traffic Stop Information

§2:13 Personal Contact With the Arresting Officer

§2:14 Field Sobriety Testing

§2:15 Arrest and Transport

§2:16 Police Station

§2:17 Events Prior to the Incident

§2:18 Intoxication Investigation

§2:19 Medication

§2:20 Alcohol Concentration

§2:21 Personal Information and Employment

§2:22 Health Information

§2:23 Special Needs, Problems or Facts

§2:24 Prior Criminal History

III. The State’s Version

A. The District Attorney File

§2:30 General Points

§2:31 Discovery and Michael Morton Act

§2:32 Police Report, Logs, Test Results

§2:33 Impound Records and Property Inventories

§2:34 Administrative License Revocation Records

B. The Court File

§2:40 The Court File Is Important

§2:41 The Court File Is a Public Record

§2:42 Review the Information and Affidavit or Complaint

Texas DWI Manual 2-2

IV. Videotapes

A. General Points

§2:50 Video Cameras Are Increasingly Common

§2:51 The Defense Is Entitled to Copies of Videotapes

B. Squad Videotapes

§2:60 Review Form

§2:61 Vehicle in Motion

§2:62 Personal Contact

§2:63 Field Coordination Exercises

§2:64 Portable Breath Test

§2:65 Arrest

§2:66 Transport

C. Jail Videotapes

§2:80 General Points and Review Form

§2:81 Initial Appearance; Identification of Persons

§2:82 Statutory Warnings and Submission to Testing

§2:83 Field Sobriety Testing

§2:84 Miranda Warnings

§2:85 Interview Questions

§2:86 Chemical Testing

V. Forms

2-1 DWI Client Interview Form

2-1a Alternative DWI Interview Form

2-2 District Attorney File Review Information

2-3 Accident Report

2-4 DWI Video Evaluation Worksheet

2-5 Reserved

2-6 Interview and Miranda

2-7 Health History

2-8 Chemical Testing

2-9 Motion to Redact Inadmissible Portions of State’s Video Evidence

2-10 Order on Video Redaction Request