I f*cked up. Help and advice?
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- panseared
I fucked up and got myself a DUI the other night after meeting an old designer friend for drinks... first offense. barely blew over the limit. Charged with 4th degree misdemeanor. I'm smart enough to know that I fucked up and am not trying to 'beat' the charge. But Im wondering what I can do to help myself ala diminished fines, no license suspension, etc. Is a lawyer worth it? Any advice would be appreciated. Happy New Years! DONT drink and drive, at all!
- MarleyMarl0
I don't feel sorry for you.
- If I were you I wouldn't either. not looking for sympathy, just looking to move past this in the best way possible.panseared
- I guess you could either kill yourself or flee the country.CygnusZero4
- boobs0
Deciding if a lawyer is worth it is hard. Because it will be really expensive even for the simplest cases. You might be better off, financially, not using one.
- CALLES0
there is no cheap way out of this one. thousand is almost certain
- CALLES0
we are talking community hours, aa shit, and maybe try to sponge that
- panseared0
Yea i realize the financial penalties are stiff. I definitely would rather not pay a lawyer to put a guilty plea in for me ... not looking for the easy way out either, just dont want to get raked over the coals for my poor judgement.
- cannonball19780
Sack up and take what's coming.
- dibec0
You may be able to get a diversion agreement. You have to qualify and the judge has to accept. That is your only true chance of getting this held off your record. The only downfall, if you fu*k up again you get this automatically charged plus whatever law your broke.
- will look into this, thanks.panseared
- need a lawyer to argue for this or am I able to do it any idea? googling now...panseared
- You can always represent yourself. If you have a "clean" record, and I do not mean the last seven years clean. Possibility.dibec
- Other than a minor comsumption when I was 18 (years ago) and a speeding ticket, I have no record. never been arrested.panseared
- Just know they have your full history. ;)dibec
- seeessess0
Happy new year
- CALLES0
how was jail?
- VikingKing220
I rejoined because I can sorta help in this situation.
First things is: You're screwed.
•You will have about $3,000 in fines
•You will lose your license for a year
•Depending on the state you could have to partake in court mandated alcohol education classes. ($50 a class x 20 classes)
•Your auto insurance will go up significantly. $1200 a year to $3600 is typical.
•Possibly 100 hours of community service or morgue workOptions:
Stick with the public defender unless you really, really have money for a lawyer. He can help with the below and reduce finds
1. You can keep a license (restricted license) to drive 'to and from work' or 'to and from school' - A public defender should have no problem getting this accomplished. Especially if you have no record of criminal activity or drug use. This does not mean you can drive to the grocery store or an old designer friends house.
2. If your state does not require a court mandated alcohol education, offer to enroll in one out of good faith
3. Offer to do community service if not required by the court.
Your #1 goal should be to get a 'Restricted License' but I can assure you your insurance will go up significantly and you have to have full coverage.
- fines*VikingKing22
- also google DUI and your STATE to find tips and other opinions.VikingKing22
- thanks for the info much appreciated.panseared
- BattleAxe0
how many times did you blow in to the device, a friend of mine had to blow more than once and for that the judge dissmised his case, he did get a lawyer and the cop dash cam helped his case , you are only suppose to blow once , either way he paid up the ying yang
- only once on the side of the road and then again at the station.panseared
- kgvs720
Did you take a B.A.C. test? That could make a difference in all this, no evidence can take it down to reckless driving, which in turn can be off your record if you keep it cool for a year or two.
Your main goal is to reduce the charges and try to keep that off your record.
- I don't know how much you had to drink, but you never, ever blow, it becomes evidence.kgvs72
- we have implied consent laws. refusal to test results in a year revokation, even if your not convicted.panseared
- i dont think you have to blowCALLES
- I think it's simpler to fight off a revocation with no B.A.C. results if you ask me.kgvs72
- it is. yes.
rodzilla
- Ironmonkey0
You are fucked. I mean this is the nicest way. Depending on your city, DD laws are getting stiffer and stiffer.
There is no way out of it, no way to not pay for it, no way not to do the Community service. If the Officer didnt say the mythical "Hey, just get home and dont drive anymore" you are about to get the hammer.
Work your ass off now to save as much money as possible. You are about to get wiped out 4x over. Rather not paying for a lawyer is a mistake. Its stupid but the judge just seeing a lawyers face can show how remorseful and prepared you are. You should have rather not driven. Its new years, if your license is at stake, why put it in danger?
I've watched a close friend lose a whole life over a Dui. Like cannonball said, sack up and take whats coming to ya.
- waterhouse0
I wish you were "panacea" instead.
- zoozoo0
happy new year
- CygnusZero40
You kind of deserve to get raked over the coals. You could have injured or killed an innocent person walking down the road. You're basically fucked right now and that's how it should be.
- CygnusZero40
And lol @ hoping for no license suspension. Good luck with that one. It's mandatory and noone ever gets out of it. And dont even think about trying to drive while it's suspended. You'll really regret it if you get caught.
- mg330
Sorry to hear this but as everyone and you are saying, it's your own fault.
We know someone who has had three DUI's and his life utterly fucked by it. But, anyone that gets to that point is a total fucking moron to the n'th degree. You made a mistake and frankly it should be a lesson to many of us: 2 Guiness and a shot over 2 1/2 hours seems pretty lightweight, so it just goes to show that it doesn't take much. I bet you are as pissed at the situation as you are surprised that that amount of alcohol did it.
- 2 guiness and a shot over 2+ hours seems lightweight? That's a mistake right there. That's knowingly over the limit.JerseyRaindog
- they say a drink an hour is under the limit...
duhsign