Don't ever get a DUI

[friskinator]

A guy I worked with and I received DUI's within a couple months of each other. He had money, and spent a bunch of it on a lawyer. I was broke, and took my chances. We both got the same exact sentences. This was in Port Charlotte, Florida in 1990.

What do you mean by "took my chances?" No lawyer? Public defender?

Just like any profession with bad examples, there are bad lawyers out there. Some will take your money and not do much. There are also good public defenders.

 

[bobba66]

What do you mean by "took my chances?" No lawyer? Public defender?

Just like any profession with bad examples, there are bad lawyers out there. Some will take your money and not do much. There are also good public defenders.

No lawyer. Pled no contest in court.

 

[ThePez]

I worked for the phone company when I got my DUI. I was also in the telecommunications union at the time. I sought advice from the union on how to handle the situation and was given the number to their attorney. he asked which city i was pulled over in, and he flat out told me to go alone and plead no contest. this city doesn’t deal. he told me exactly what my punishment would be, and he was right. he offered to hold my hand in court for $1500, but it wouldn’t change the outcome. he was right. as i sat in court waiting my turn, i saw many people with lawyers who were also first time offenders and they all received the same punishment that i got. and second time offenders got 30 days in jail. no questions asked. their lawyers put on a show and asked questions of the officers, but non of them succeeded in reducing the sentences.

maybe it’s different in your city though. best of luck!

 

[buldog5151bass]

I worked for the phone company when I got my DUI. I was also in the telecommunications union at the time. I sought advice from the union on how to handle the situation and was given the number to their attorney. he asked which city i was pulled over in, and he flat out told me to go alone and plead no contest. this city doesn’t deal. he told me exactly what my punishment would be, and he was right. he offered to hold my hand in court for $1500, but it wouldn’t change the outcome. he was right. as i sat in court waiting my turn, i saw many people with lawyers who were also first time offenders and they all received the same punishment that i got. and second time offenders got 30 days in jail. no questions asked. their lawyers put on a show and asked questions of the officers, but non of them succeeded in reducing the sentences.

maybe it’s different in your city though. best of luck!

Then the union lawyer did exactly what he should have done. But that is not the case with every court, and every offense.

 

[WI Short Scaler]

I really appreciate the support this community has shown me. It's not my first alcohol related charge I've had but it will surely be my last. I'm done drinking and running from my problems. I will accept whatever punishment the judge deems fit and be a man about the situation.

It's a brave thing to share your story here as a cautionary tale for others. IMO, you have the right attitude that you made a mistake and it's not the fault of the police. Heard that too many times from people trying to pass blame.

My guitarist friend, who I've played with now for 15+ years, is an AA success story. I think last month was his 15 year anniversary of being sober. Prior to this 15 year stint of us working together he was in a previous band with us for a short period, and we asked him to leave because of how much he drank.

For as long as I can remember I've been a soda drinker at gigs, it's not worth the risk to me. I just came to the realization that on the way home from a gig, after teardown, who is on the roads? Just you and the police. Not worth it.

Best of luck to you in getting past this major bump to your life.

 

[friskinator]

Regardless of what legal representation you choose, the one thing you don't want is a DUI conviction on your record. Do whatever it takes to get it reduced to something less serious.

Another thing I learned from my wife's practice: even if you're not convicted, the arrest will always be on your record. Which can be seen in background checks. She had a lot of clients that were upset about that after being found not guilty or having their case dismissed, but she had to explain to them that there's nothing that can be done about it. Your arrest record exists no matter what happens in court.

 

[MonetBass]

Maybe change the title to "Don't drive when you've been drinking"? Seems like that's the message you want to give, and it's a good one.
"Don't get a DUI" scans to me like "Don't get caught drinking and driving" which I think is not what you meant.
Not trying to be pedantic.
Hope things work out as best they can.

QFT. I got a DUI many years ago when I was a stupid college boy. The driver safety course I had to attend really woke me up. We watched a film of a guy in jail talking about killing a family of four after hitting them while he was driving drunk (blacked out). He said that living with that every day is pure torture. That could have been me, but I'm thankful I didn't hurt anyone or myself. Just don't drive when you've been drinking.

 

[FingerDub]

I worked for the phone company when I got my DUI. I was also in the telecommunications union at the time. I sought advice from the union on how to handle the situation and was given the number to their attorney. he asked which city i was pulled over in, and he flat out told me to go alone and plead no contest. this city doesn’t deal. he told me exactly what my punishment would be, and he was right. he offered to hold my hand in court for $1500, but it wouldn’t change the outcome. he was right. as i sat in court waiting my turn, i saw many people with lawyers who were also first time offenders and they all received the same punishment that i got. and second time offenders got 30 days in jail. no questions asked. their lawyers put on a show and asked questions of the officers, but non of them succeeded in reducing the sentences.

maybe it’s different in your city though. best of luck!

Exactly what I said earlier, don't waste your money on an attorney. Suck up your punishment and move on.

Not even your union attorney could do anything for you, and that says a lot.

 

[friskinator]

Exactly what I said earlier, don't waste your money on an attorney. Suck up your punishment and move on.

Not even your union attorney could do anything for you, and that says a lot.

Union attorneys aren't trained in DUI law. He's right when he said there wasn't much he could do. It'd be like hiring a jazz guy to play a death metal gig. Sure, they could maybe get through it, but probably not well. DUI law is a very specific skill set.

"Suck up your punishment" is easy to advise when you aren't the one in trouble.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Union attorneys aren't trained in DUI law. He's right when he said there wasn't much he could do. It'd be like hiring a jazz guy to play a death metal gig. Sure, they could maybe get through it, but probably not well. DUI law is a very specific skill set.

"Suck up your punishment" is easy to advise when you aren't the one in trouble.

I practice employment law. There are times when people come in, and while there may be a violation of the law, there are times when it doesn't make sense to get an attorney - no significant damages, something that could be handled by a Department of Labor complaint, etc. I tell them what they can do - cost me money but in those particular circumstances, a lawyer is not necessary. That does NOT mean you would not be helped with counsel in the vast majority of the situations.

I am guessing the union attorney knew exactly what he was doing, and gave good counsel.

 

[ThePez]

his advice was based on the city i was arrested in. he also said that had it been in a one of the other cities in the area (there are seven here within a 30 min radius), an attorney might have been helpful. which is why i said, it might be different in your city. this was also over 20 years ago, things have probably changed since then haha.

 

[the harp unstrung]

QFT. I got a DUI many years ago when I was a stupid college boy. The driver safety course I had to attend really woke me up. We watched a film of a guy in jail talking about killing a family of four after hitting them while he was driving drunk (blacked out). He said that living with that every day is pure torture. That could have been me, but I'm thankful I didn't hurt anyone or myself. Just don't drive when you've been drinking.

MAN! Your story sound A Lot like mine!

I’d always thought of myself as ‘one of the good guys’, but that course left me with no illusions...no place to hide!

Woah! The state of Georgia got my Undivided attention!

...small town, I spoke with law enforcement every day...I took the Sheriff’s advice and showed up in court with my certificate from the Driver’s Safety course...no lawyer.

His Honor called me ‘a serious young man’, and waived several fees and penalties.

It still cost better than $5,000, back when we had two small children and a broken pot to piss in.

It changed my life, and Certainly for the better.