DUI

Do you have an idea on increased insurance rates?
How much does an attorney charge in that case?

Expensive night

I went through this 3 years ago, summary probation is up in August. This is from my personal experience and your mileage may vary depending on your area and the DA's mood at the time.

Personally I think on your first DUI if you are planning to plea no contest you don't need an attorney.

If you plan to fight and try to get it dismissed via faulty/inaccurate testing methods, if your were close to legal limit like right at .08 they can usually get it down to a wet and reckless or if there was property damage and/or bodily injury then yes you need an attorney.

DA's pretty much seem to have a standard sentence depending on your BAC but can vary slightly depending on the area.

When I went to court in the South Bay area of Los Angeles there were about 20 of us there for DUI's. The DA took us all outside and quickly met with us. Told us what the sentence would be based on each persons BAC. It was like an assembly line. We all agreed on our sentences, we went back in and stood in a line in front of the judge. The judge went down the line quickly and read the sentence for each person individually and entered the judgements at the same time.

.08 - .15 = 3 month alcohol classes 9 AA 1 MADD

.16 - .20 = 6 month alcohol classes 18 AA 1 MADD

.21 + = 9 month alcohol classes, 27 AA 1 MADD, 5 days community service 1 day at LA county morgue program

I blew .23 so I got girl slapped, yes I know I was a dumb A$$ I have not driven with any alcohol in my system since. I was a chronic drunk driver did it for years never got pulled over. Felt I could drive fine and still think I can but won't take the chance. Have a high tolerance and am a bigger guy. I even got a cab for my friend and paid for a their cab ride home that night then proceeded to get into my car and go home. Got stopped at a check point.

Court fines were all the same around 2k each. The class fees varied depending on the length of the course, I think I paid about 2k for the 9 months. There were a lot of miscellaneous fees $400 booking fee to the police, $200 towing fee, $150 to arrange the community service (They made me do Cal Trans which felt like slave labor on the freeway), MADD fee, $90 to do the morgue program etc. garbage ton of fees, every gets their cut. Morgue program was insanity with the garbage they showed you. Smell was ungodly, one guy puked and I was close with some serious gaggin. I can go into detail if anybody is interested.

This is standard DMV guidelines in CA. License was suspended for a full 30 days, you get caught driving mandatory 10 days in jail (Cops post up outside the Alcohol schools checking licenses). After 30 days you can apply for a restricted license (To and from work and program requirements only) The restriction ends once you complete your alcohol education classes. So basically a 3, 6 or 9 month restricted license.

Never been arrested in my life I was 43 at the time. Felt like a kick in the balls, so demoralizing really put me into a depression/tailspin that I am still feeling the effects of. It wasn't so much the money but the time I wasted because I didn't want to pick my car up in the morning. By far the worst decision I ever made. I would pay $1000 for a cab ride then go through that garbage again.

Never ever drink and drive. All it takes is one time and you will regret it for life.

How is this possible?   You guys need to hire the lawyer that represented this guy.

Drunk Driver Who Killed Couple in Head-On Collision Sentenced to Only  60 Days in Jail

A Kansas State University graduate student was sentenced to just 60 days in jail after he killed a couple in a head-on collision while his blood alcohol content was more than twice the legal limit.

read more about it below

https://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/crime/drunk-driver-who-killed-couple-head-collision-sentenced-only-60-days-jail

 

Esplande....and Nut Flopper....

I honestly don't know how much an attorney charges for this kind of case because the attorney that went with me is pretty much a friend that just said he would show up with me.  I didn't ask him to but he said that he would be there for me on the court date  and it was a super cool gesture by him to do that.

I agree with you nut flopper that you don't really need a lawyer if it is a standard first case and you didn't hit anyone or anybody.  The lawyer did help me in one aspect though....

I blew a .16 and as you said .15 to .20 is six months of dui classes.  They didn't have the results of my blood work yet so it was only the breathalyzer that they were going off to get that .16.  My lawyer asked the judge to drop the 6 months to 3 months instead of reschudling a court date to wait for the blood to come back and the judge ok'd that....so he saved me about 500 bucks and 3 month of classes....needless to say I am gonna get him a nice gift card to the hunting store or a nice restaurant to take his wifey.

Also nut flopper the cops were cool to me at the time of arrest and moved my car to a bank parking lot and didn't tow it so that saved me some cash there.....and I thanked them for that.

And I sort of have the same sentiment as you.....its like being kicked in the nuts and slaps some sense into you  making you realize you are making a fucked up decision to get behind the wheel if you have been drinking.

 

 

NUT...can I ask you this.....at what point can I go to DMV to apply to get a restricted license.......my 30 day HARD suspension begins on Monday....can I go during that 30 day time to at least get the paperwork going?

update....

halfway through my classes now......over my 30 day suspension and now have a breathalyzer in my car for 5 months...

definitely lesson learned

call mandatory action unit in sacramento. There number is on google. They always answer (human) and will tell you all ya need to know about your restr license situation and more if you ask them questions. Not many here in Ca know about them.

We will always have differing opinions on these sorts of situations, which if fine.

differing on what? Every guy in this thread has operated a vehicle legally drunk and probably got away with it....including cops that drink and drive.... all the time.

I got popped 13 years ago in a non moving vehicle with a BA of 08.3.

Trying to help the dude straighten out a human mistake.

Don't dial the (800) court number.  Go down to the offices and work your way through the system. 

Buscuiteater1 (God love him) prefers to advise some people to do it on their own, which would be simple and within our rights under law.

Issue might be that:

A) You don't have the time to research/file "XYZ"
B) Will have opposition to your case (DA/LE/JD)
C) Buiscuiteater1 in a plaid suit ready to argue the 9th Court.

Any way you look at it....a FREE CALL to an unaffiliated law group is the first step.

BTW,  I have heard that Buscuiteater1 left a reputable Law Firm back in 2010, after he gained an agreement for a client in excess of a 12 pack. 

The dude is good people and the above 'missive' states such.  Buscuiteater1 is a decent capper and a positive contributor to Covers......(full disclosure)

Search...just think it best to have representation.  I understand your reply and respect it.

Snapp, reads that he's already had representation and it's over and done with - I agree though. Sounds like his buddy saved his behind on what any 2k lawyer charge would have done.

Mand action unit is the DMV North but they are gestapo as opposed to regular dmv tards in LA county. 

Wore out many a pair of shoes doing that hike brother.

I was playing with Biscuit from another thread.  You always have good info my friend.

Clicked on this thread cuz I found it interesting. The wife and I are having problems and it stems from her drinking. I quit a while back and will only situationally drink (wine with steak dinner, weddings, maybe the Super Bowl) but she remains an every day drinker. Even got a DUI last year. Its caused some serious fights and much damage to our relationship from things she's said or done while drinking. I'm afraid the relationship may end if there is no progress. Got any advice?

Thanks ad

She's a good woman overall. Keeps the house neat, takes care of things for me, is a good mother, etc., And its not like she carries around flasks of booze and is a slop all the time. But she does go for the bottle just about every single day. Actually, it is pretty much every day. She had a troubled childhood, an incident with a brother touching inappropriately touching her, daddy issues, and mother being a complete ignoramus. So I feel sorry for her there. She is a college graduate and not a dumb person. But again, that alcohol seems to bring out a disgusting human being. I even video taped her once and tried to show her but she wouldn't watch and at first chance destroyed the tape. Its to the point where I wont be involved in any social situation that involves alcohol. And even like last night we were home and the kids were up and she started drinking, I have to remove myself or become a target. Don't get me wrong, its not all bad. She becomes a freak in bed when she drinks and that can be very fun. But its scary to think about my family unit being disrupted because there is only so much O could take from her alcohol abuse.

It ruins lives and in our case we have children.

What a bummer. Find a good addiction specialist/therapist and hand her the card.

"Your family or the bottle....think about it"

 

Biz....ya it sounds like your wife is indeed an alcoholic....and probably needs some help.....especially since her getting a DUI hasn't made her re evaluate her priorities in life.

Me getting this DUI has made me re evaluate things in my life and thus I am not going to make the same mistakes ....such as drinking and driving....as I have in the past.

If you guys are curious as to what my sentence was and what the costs involved were....here is a quick break down....

$ 2,536  fine / booking fee / admin fees

$  675  3 months of DUI school

$  575  breathalyzer in the car for 5 months

$ 160  had to pay for one day of work project in lieu of jail

$  180  DMV reissue fee for restricted license

$ 25   SR  22 form to dmv

also my insurance just went up as well.....went from 75 a month to 185 per month

so that is roughly about 4300 in fines etc and that is not included every month in the future my insurance is up 110 bucks.

And not to mention the time involved of going to and from the classes

I honestly have just dealt with this in the most upbeat way I can and just roll with it.....that's all you can do.  Much props to my woman too for  carting me around a little bit when I couldn't drive for 30 days......hooked her up with a nice starbucks card...=)

The only other thing I will tell you guys and gals is that .08 is freaking nothing......I felt like I was capable of driving ok at .16 so to me it is scary how .08 is probably nothing so be careful out there.

 

I keep telling you guys, if you happen to be driving with a buzz on (try not to), and catch the blue lights, you're better off slowly pulling your car over as instructed, open the door and run like chit.

If you have any speed at all it'll take ém at least 3 hours to catch you if at all. Just keep moving. It's cheaper.

Always run.like hell when you're for sure screwed by the po po....the odds change away from the house.