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Thread: DUI

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    Veteran Member BB1984's Avatar
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    Default DUI

    Hi, I recently got a dui (dec 24)n I feel so bad about it, and I've learned my lesson. Does anyone know, is it worth it to get a lawyer? At the scene I wasn't convicted of a dui, I had six drinks in six hours, do u think I was over a 0.08? Also I am in paralegal school, will this effect my opportunities when looking for a job? I'm so stressed out, and feel like things just keep getting worse; any opinions or ideas will help.

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    Featured Member echomadison's Avatar
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    Default Re: DUI

    How did you get the DUI charge if you werent convicted? Failed the field tests? Did you refuse the breathalizer?

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    Featured Member Perry's Avatar
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    Default Re: DUI

    One drink puts you at about .08, and it takes roughly an hour for it to leave your system. So, I'm thinking, yeah, you're probably going to sobriety court. I've been through the system, and I know it's scary - but I've learned a lot.

    The first thing to do is start going to AA, check into a a weekend driver responcibility prograhm, and go to a few Mothers Against Drung Driving semiars. Document EVERYTHING - the purpose of all this is to look repentant in front of the judge. That, and there's also a good chance he's going to sentance you to one or more of those things on his own - so you've got a head start. I met several people in rehab who checked themselves in before their court date to get lighter sentancing.

    Also, community service looks great. I wouldn't bother with getting a lawyer - the most he'll do is drop your sentance from a DUI to a DWI (which just reduces your driver responsibility fee - that you'll have spent on him anyway) and doesn't change any other aspect of it. But either one is typically a misdemeanor, and not a felony so you won't have to report it on job applications.

    Try to find out what you blew on the PBT, and what the laws in your state are. Every state is different. Some consider anything over the legal limit to be a felony, some go easier on a first offence. I went through it 2 years ago. PM me if you need anything!

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    Veteran Member BB1984's Avatar
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    Default Re: DUI

    Sorry I didn't include enough details. At the scene, I took the field sobriety test and refused the breathalizer so I had to have my blood drawn. The blood test takes 30 days to come back So I have no idea what may blood alcohol level was. My ticket said impaired to the slightest degree and bac of 0.08 or more within 2 hrs. of driving, but that won't be proven until the blood test gets back. I'm praying that I was under the limit.

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    Default Re: DUI

    I have 2 dui's,i got them in the same year 4 years ago. The first dui you should get a lawyer,you have a really good chance of getting out of it since you don't have a prior. If you are convicted you can apply for a permitto drive back and forth towork. I think that since you refused to blow you automatically lose your liscense i think for6 months.

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    Featured Member echomadison's Avatar
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    Default Re: DUI

    Most places its 1 year license suspension for refusing the breathalizer

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    Default Re: DUI

    Quote Originally Posted by echomadison View Post
    Most places its 1 year license suspension for refusing the breathalizer
    Def true in Ohio If you refuse you are suspended. Then it is up to you to try and finagle something through the court system.

    FBR
    Once again I have embraced my addiction and have put off the moral dilemma to another day.

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    Featured Member echomadison's Avatar
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    Default Re: DUI

    What will happen if you are convicted. Six months to a year suspension of your license for refusing to blow. Minimum $1000 in fines not including a lawyer, which you will have to have (court appointed or you hire one). Forty-eight to seventy-two hours consecutive in jail <-----why you need the lawyer. Mandatory MADD impact panel typically and an alcohol awareness class TYPICALLY. I dont think I am forgetting anything

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    Default Re: DUI

    Here in Illiois you can set it up to be expunged from your record once you have gone through al the court counseling, rehab, etc. So that way it won't affect backgound checks after that. Good luck! It's cheaper to call a cab or rent a room when you're impaired. The main thing is no one got hurt. Please learn from this!!!

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    Default Re: DUI

    how long after your last drink did you take the blood test? If it was more then a couple hours you might be ok. but like others said, refusing the breathalyzer usually means a suspended license. Also, did you drink any other liquids during those six hours?

    As far as being charged with a dui for your first offense, get a lawyer. You might be able to get it down to reckless driving if the blood test comes back .08 or above
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    Featured Member maximvsv's Avatar
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    Default Re: DUI

    Quote Originally Posted by Perry View Post
    One drink puts you at about .08
    Pa. Dept. of Transportation statistics say that one "average" 1 oz shot of liquor, one 12 oz beer or one glass of wine (8 oz?) will induce a blood alcohol content of .02% in a 150lb male. Smaller people will register a slightly higher conentration. Then, the "average" liver will process the alcohol at .02% per hour.

    So, if you drink three shots of some generic 80 proof liquor your BAC should go up to .06% within the first fifteen minutes. Then, it will go down to .04% after an hour, to .02% after the next hour, then .00 then next hour.

    If your liver is messed up, or your metabolism is slow, or you don't have the enzymes to process alcohol (some people have a genetic flaw for that), it changes that quite a bit.

    Also, if you use this to predict anything, please remember to keep in mind the actual alcohol content of whatever you drank and the actual size (since 1 oz is pretty small and bartenders don't often pour them that small)
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    Featured Member echomadison's Avatar
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    Default Re: DUI

    Yes diversion is always an option on your first offense

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    Default Re: DUI

    If you can't afford a lawyer, you can have the court appoint one for you.

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    Default Re: DUI

    I got a DUI in April, I got 3 years probation, 9 months of alcohol awareness and a 1500 fine and I had a lawyer. I got the exact same sentence as my friends that didn't have lawyers so honestly I can't say if it's worth getting a lawyer. If you do get a lawyer, he might be able to get it reduced to wet reckless. Also, I am a nurse and the nursing board found out and I got fined. Im unsure about paralegals though ? Hope I helped a little and you'll be alright try not to stress yourself out too much everyone makes a mistake. Keep your head up ! K

  16. #15
    Honey71783
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    Default Re: DUI

    I got a DUI in October 2006 and I got an attorney. I am still waiting for my trial and it has been over a year. All though I do not know what the outcome is yet, so far I would recommend an attorney. I paid my attorney $3,000 and he has taken care of all of my court appearances, hardship license, and DMV issues. I get an e-mail about once a month letting me know what's going on or if I have to come in to talk to him or appear in court. Getting an attorney has definitely taken the burden off of my chest for this portion of the process.

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    Default Re: DUI

    Quote Originally Posted by BB1984 View Post
    Hi, I recently got a dui (dec 24)n I feel so bad about it, and I've learned my lesson. Does anyone know, is it worth it to get a lawyer? At the scene I wasn't convicted of a dui, I had six drinks in six hours, do u think I was over a 0.08? Also I am in paralegal school, will this effect my opportunities when looking for a job? I'm so stressed out, and feel like things just keep getting worse; any opinions or ideas will help.
    definetely get a lawyer

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    Default Re: DUI

    I had a dui in PA as my first offense. In PA, most first time offenders here are eligible for an ard program. The cost depends on your blood alcohol level. In this program you take safe driving classes, do community service, and go through an evaluation to see if you need counseling. It will delete the offense off your record in a year if everything is completed. Job applications ask if i was ever convicted of a crime and i can say no because of the program i am in. So, I wouldnt worry about the job part

    If there is a chance you could get out of the dui all together...i say get a lawyer. If it will only be dropped as a lesser charge....i say check with the court to see if your eligible for a program and just have a public defender. That way, in a year there wont be anything on your record.

    If you know your definitively gonna be charged with a dui, i would check to see if you are guaranteed admittance into a program like i just described for first time offenders. I dont think You would really need a lawyer if thats the case because its pretty cut and dry and you can do everything through the court.


    My case was different because i was unarguably impaired.
    I got a lawyer for 1200 dollars. He took off my other two charges the cops game me....which were wreckless driving and running a redlight.
    I refused so my license is suspended for a year....i dont think there is any way around some kind of refusal for suspension .

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    Default Re: DUI

    Dont feel bad since you learned from your mistake.

    I made huge positive changes since my dui and have a whole new perspective now. Some things happen for a reason.

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    Veteran Member Robertjordan's Avatar
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    Default Re: DUI

    Definitely get some legal advice from an attorney.

    Here is Florida you cannot "refuse" to take a sobriety test BUT you do have the option of taking a blood test as an alternative. If you simply refuse then you lose your license for at least 1 year. I don't drink and drive but I've always thought that if I were borderline I'd go ahead and ask to be taken to have my blood drawn instead of doing the breathalyzer. At the very least it buys you some time and it should be more accurate. They can only force you to give them blood if you caused an accident resulting in an injury, otherwise it's optional.

    About legal advice, definitely get some. I have a friend who had a run in with the law when he was in college. Drunk and disorderly or some stupid thing like that. He's a lawyer today and told me he should have hired someone to have the thing removed from his record. As it was he pleaded no contest or something like that as he didn't want to pay for an attorney. Now that follows him around on his record.

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