It took 10 years of driving drunk and it was admittingly my own fault for speeding at the time. This is my story..
Had a birthday party for a friend on a saturday morning filled with beer, bbq and shots of sorts. We had a great time and around 9ish i decided to head home and get ready to go out. I had my roomate with me and he was no better. We took some back roads and this specific one had a fluctuating speed limit. I just happened to have been going a might bit to fast for the current area i was in. Cop pulled in behind me and i knew i was going to jail. I tried to recollect all the things you're supposed to do when getting pulled over.
1. Shut car off
2. Turn on interior lights
3. Hands on the steering wheel
4. Be polite but don't give away anything
The officer did his schpeal and asked me if i'd been drinking... i admitted to a few beers. Mistake #1.
He asked me to the back of the car where he requested i take field sobriety tests. I politely declined his offer.
He sat me back there asking why, i should just take them, if i pass i go home. 4 cop cars were now sitting behind his. I told him it didn't make a difference with 5-6 officers at the location. I was going to jail. He let a friend of my roomates pick my car up and i was handcuffed and taken away. Jail wasn't all that bad, it was slow because it was early and the officer was pretty nice. The admitting officers were a hoot, we had a great time, joking and making fun of some of the idiots coming in to be booked. I would say it wasn't a horrible experience and probably one everyone needs to experience once.
8 hours later i was released and my old roomate was coming to pick me up. I knew i was pretty screwed seeing as it helps if i can drive for a job and i was supposed to be going to Canada for work the next week. Because of the pending DUI charge they denied my work visa, although there were other reasons. So that was bad part #1. I wasn't sure exactly what i was going to do. I did some research and put my case together, hired a lawyer and discussed it with him.
After determining that any statements i made prior to miranda rights can be used against me based on the circumstances of which the conversation was held, i felt it was best to take the plea they offered and not try to fight it. A DUI on my record could be detrimental to my employment and any future employment i may seek. In the end i ended up with
Wreckless driving
50 hours community service ( i can buy out all of it, 10 an hour + )
6 months probation 60 dollar fee each month
3 different classes i'm yet to sign up for
Total fees VIA the plea range from 700-900
Lawyer fees = 3500
Taxi estimates = 100-200 a month so far (the non reimbursable rides)
Now then, the major mistake i made was denying the sobriety tests and the breathalyzer test. For some reason i thought this was the best course of action, however the DMV in florida has control over your license at that point. When you get your license you agree to any sobriety test requested and if you deny you give up your license for a period of 12 months. You can of-course request an administrative hearing and hope they take pitty on you. The problem with that is it's not a legal hearing in any way. It's some guy at the DMV who, pending his mood, can decide to keep your license regardless of paperwork screw ups.
They denied my request. License gone for 12 months. After 90 days i can apply for a hardship, of which i'll be doing on 12/1/08. I later learned that even if you take the breathlayzer and you take the case to trial, you can request the software the machine uses, the company won't currently release it so that portion can be thrown out. Would have been great to know that prior.
The things i've learned.
Taxis are ALOT cheaper then a DUI
My car doesnt' like not being driven
My bike is now useless
Travelling for a living and not renting cars sucks.
Lawyers pretty much just want your money
Never ever say anything to a cop
So probation includes no drinking, which i've flipped to a positive of a great weight loss program. Thats all, this is sporadic as i'm on-site this week and didn't type this out all at once.
Ask questions if you'd like, call me an idiot, do what you wish.
This blog is for Dharma
Had a birthday party for a friend on a saturday morning filled with beer, bbq and shots of sorts. We had a great time and around 9ish i decided to head home and get ready to go out. I had my roomate with me and he was no better. We took some back roads and this specific one had a fluctuating speed limit. I just happened to have been going a might bit to fast for the current area i was in. Cop pulled in behind me and i knew i was going to jail. I tried to recollect all the things you're supposed to do when getting pulled over.
1. Shut car off
2. Turn on interior lights
3. Hands on the steering wheel
4. Be polite but don't give away anything
The officer did his schpeal and asked me if i'd been drinking... i admitted to a few beers. Mistake #1.
He asked me to the back of the car where he requested i take field sobriety tests. I politely declined his offer.
He sat me back there asking why, i should just take them, if i pass i go home. 4 cop cars were now sitting behind his. I told him it didn't make a difference with 5-6 officers at the location. I was going to jail. He let a friend of my roomates pick my car up and i was handcuffed and taken away. Jail wasn't all that bad, it was slow because it was early and the officer was pretty nice. The admitting officers were a hoot, we had a great time, joking and making fun of some of the idiots coming in to be booked. I would say it wasn't a horrible experience and probably one everyone needs to experience once.
8 hours later i was released and my old roomate was coming to pick me up. I knew i was pretty screwed seeing as it helps if i can drive for a job and i was supposed to be going to Canada for work the next week. Because of the pending DUI charge they denied my work visa, although there were other reasons. So that was bad part #1. I wasn't sure exactly what i was going to do. I did some research and put my case together, hired a lawyer and discussed it with him.
After determining that any statements i made prior to miranda rights can be used against me based on the circumstances of which the conversation was held, i felt it was best to take the plea they offered and not try to fight it. A DUI on my record could be detrimental to my employment and any future employment i may seek. In the end i ended up with
Wreckless driving
50 hours community service ( i can buy out all of it, 10 an hour + )
6 months probation 60 dollar fee each month
3 different classes i'm yet to sign up for
Total fees VIA the plea range from 700-900
Lawyer fees = 3500
Taxi estimates = 100-200 a month so far (the non reimbursable rides)
Now then, the major mistake i made was denying the sobriety tests and the breathalyzer test. For some reason i thought this was the best course of action, however the DMV in florida has control over your license at that point. When you get your license you agree to any sobriety test requested and if you deny you give up your license for a period of 12 months. You can of-course request an administrative hearing and hope they take pitty on you. The problem with that is it's not a legal hearing in any way. It's some guy at the DMV who, pending his mood, can decide to keep your license regardless of paperwork screw ups.
They denied my request. License gone for 12 months. After 90 days i can apply for a hardship, of which i'll be doing on 12/1/08. I later learned that even if you take the breathlayzer and you take the case to trial, you can request the software the machine uses, the company won't currently release it so that portion can be thrown out. Would have been great to know that prior.
The things i've learned.
Taxis are ALOT cheaper then a DUI
My car doesnt' like not being driven
My bike is now useless
Travelling for a living and not renting cars sucks.
Lawyers pretty much just want your money
Never ever say anything to a cop
So probation includes no drinking, which i've flipped to a positive of a great weight loss program. Thats all, this is sporadic as i'm on-site this week and didn't type this out all at once.
Ask questions if you'd like, call me an idiot, do what you wish.
This blog is for Dharma
