Don't Drink and Drive

[Sue]

I'm the first one to admit I got a DUI 5 years ago. Utterly bloody stupid of me, but I deserved it.
The lawyer was $3K, the fines were $1,500, the alcohol ed program was $500, my insurance went up $500 a year, it was $125 to get my license back. I was on probation for 3 years, and spent a night in jail.

It really just isn't worth it.

Edit: Sansou, a wet reckless is the same as a DUI these days - if you're stopped and get a DUI, a prior wet reckless counts as a 1st DUI.

[baadfish69]

Yeah....the cops told me on my way down to the station that I was "probably" going to be charged with public intoxication. It wasnt until they released me from the cell, that the guy presented a ticket for me to sign, and sure enough it said DUI. I did in fact hire an attorney, and I actually wish I would have just went with the Riverside Public Defender. It almost seems as if I got punished worse just because I did hire an attorney.

Anyhow, its all said and done now, so I guess it is what it is. The ankle bracelet comes off Monday......its driving me nuts!

You could get to $10K + easily with private counsel (plus fines, penalties and assesments) on a deuce that goes to trial. Requesting "splits" on the serum/blood from the labs and hiring experts ain't cheap. On the other hand, a quality public defender will save you tons of dough and get the same results.

Baadfish....from the facts you presented, my first impression was: "Why didn't this guy get a wet reckless (at maximum!)". I know a handful of Riverside Pub Defs (& DA's from law school), and its my impression for the most part they do a great job out there repping clients. Sounds like you had private counsel (since you mention "cost" as a factor in not being able to reach a plea).

As an aside, it's my opinion the CA legislature needs to wake up and realize (like AZ and a few other states) that it is contrary to public policy to penalize individuals who choose to sleep off the ETOH in their non-moving vehicle, rather than hit them with a deuce. I realize facts drive the cases, but keys in ignition or not (and where the def is sleeping in the vehicle, and issues of "control vs. operating"), clearly a legally parked non-moving vehicle with a sleeping motorist presents no immediate danger to the public.

I understand the concept of deterrence, but in America we punish the actual breaking of the law, not "what he/she could have done". By this logic, we should take away fishing rods for fear of poaching fish. God forbid I fall asleep while fishing...a Garibaldi might bite.

In their quest to appear tough on drinking & driving (no doubt driven by their personal quest to be re-elected), legislators and judges have fashioned some ridiculous laws, with this being one of them.

Rant over. I hate when I see bum raps.

[CASTAWAY]

Yeah....the cops told me on my way down to the station that I was "probably" going to be charged with public intoxication. It wasnt until they released me from the cell, that the guy presented a ticket for me to sign, and sure enough it said DUI. I did in fact hire an attorney, and I actually wish I would have just went with the Riverside Public Defender. It almost seems as if I got punished worse just because I did hire an attorney.

Anyhow, its all said and done now, so I guess it is what it is. The ankle bracelet comes off Monday......its driving me nuts!

"Ankle bracelet", that's gangsta....lol.....

[Darius]

DUI, very sad i lost my good friend she was only some 19 years of age. Everytime i drink i am responsible i simply put the keys away. It is something so simple but people make a mistake think they are tough and macho and what not. Little did they know they are drunk, it does not matter if it's one two, twenty-two drinks just do not drink. I've sadly seen first hand how a death due to someone drinking has affected a family. Let me share to all of you what happened to my friend. She was with her boyfriend on the way back to school (UCR), she was in the passenger seat, her boyfriend driving. They were less than couple of miles to their destination, little did she know it was her sadly final one. On there approach to the off ramp, some lady who was drunk, and impaired took the offramp as a on ramp and sped up like you would do on a on ramp, but this was a off ramp, both cars collided. the boy friend survived, my friend was asleep and she died at the scene asleep. The drunk lady survived. This has been about a year ago, but i never stop thinking and wondering about her, what if's what if she was still here today just very sad, senseless irresponsible event caused by one drunk driver. lastly, the judiciary system is very slow in the justice department because there is no set in how many years this lady will be in prison for her actions. In the end, do not drink and drive, if you drink just drink and drink.

Samantha Portez 1988- November 31, 2007.

[sansou]

Edit: Sansou, a wet reckless is the same as a DUI these days - if you're stopped and get a DUI, a prior wet reckless counts as a 1st DUI.

Sue,

They are not the same. Far far from it.

I think I'm pretty familiar with the difference, having pled a client in 2007 with a .11 to a wet.

FYI: DUI vs. Wet Reckless: if you have professional licensing concerns, or ever plan on going to school and think you will be subject to moral turpitude concerns, the wet reckless, if possible, is the way to go...besides saving yourself some major bucks. Just my 2 cents...

[Tail Chaser]

You get anything DUI related with a comercial drivers lic.
You can kiss any decent paying driving jobs goodby for at least 5 to 7yrs.
Doesnt matter even if it was in your personal vehicle.

I blew a .08 due to using listerine.
Was getting pulled into a scale up in Idaho a few years back.
I just got done munching on a bag of doritos.
Thought I would be kind to the DOT officers by using some mouthwash before talking to them.
Jerkoffs thought my breath smelled like beer.
They retested me 15 minutes later. I was fine.

[Sue]

Sue,

They are not the same. Far far from it.

I think I'm pretty familiar with the difference, having pled a client in 2007 with a .11 to a wet.

FYI: DUI vs. Wet Reckless: if you have professional licensing concerns, or ever plan on going to school and think you will be subject to moral turpitude concerns, the wet reckless, if possible, is the way to go...besides saving yourself some major bucks. Just my 2 cents...

No probs, Sansou - I was just going by what they told us in alcohol ed :D
Although a DUI has no moral turpitude issues when it comes to immigration - crapped myself over that one!

[one_leg]

I have never driven, or ridden, anything while intoxicated.

[Skaguy04]

I have never driven, or ridden, anything while intoxicated.

Sorry Alan, but its too easy!

I HOPE YOU HAVE NOT RIDDEN ANYTHING WHILE DRUNK!

[Tail Chaser]

I used to ride my 1000 kawasaki around so drunk. That I had to time the lights.
If I would stop I would probably fall over. Actually any direction i would look other then straight ahead I would feel like I was going to fall over in that direction. Bike held a 6 pack of beer, or a 5th of Whisky under the seat Good times.
Rode it around in tornado warnings too. I was In KY at the time.

I never dropped that bike. Due to the fact that when I was drunk. I just rode around in survival mode.
When I wasnt buzzed.
All time spent on the bike was drag racing, doing wheelys, and riding around from 90 to 115 mph everywhere I went.
That was a long time ago.