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I just got my first ever D.U.I...first time in jail, ever. :(
- Thread starter Watch Da Birdie
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Alcohol does cloud the judgement as well as other things, but it works well to have a gameplan ahead of time and stick with it. If the drinking gets out of hand, you follow the gameplan. Have a Taxi company or Uber in your contacts. But yeah, the bar staff would MUCH rather get you a cab then send you off driving drunk after you did shots at their club. Remember, dealing with drunks is much of what they do.
You have plenty of time and ability to turn things around. You said you did well in school, so you are clearly capable of thinking critically. You are introspective and aware of your weaknesses. What's stopping you from working on improving yourself? Make a list of the ways in which you'd like to be better, and then do those things. You can control your identity despite your job and social troubles. You have plenty of time to do good things.
flatearthpandas
Member
Fair enough, I'm sure. I only know someone who was arrested and convicted for sleeping in his car drunk. The keys in hand was just something i heard.
No one can really help him with that. Getting a job is going to be harder while he is on probation but obviously not impossible. I think just addressing and personal issues that put him in this situation is a great start, even keeping the same job. If he is a risk for this type of behavior, learning to avoid it is a huge part of turning your life around. It isn't as easy as don't do it again. The dude blew .13. That is high. .05 gets you an overnight with the cops and a DWAI in most places. If you get in a car at .13, you may be at risk of going in at .05 or .08 without even thinking there is a problem.
It's also a mistake to think that simply being more confident or having more pride in your place in life will avoid these things. It happens to celebrities, rich people, successful people, happy people, etc.
No doubt. I'd take a chance with sleeping in the back seat too. I mean, worst case you get arrested sleeping in your back seat and spend some bucks on a good lawyer. I'm sure a good lawyer would have a long LOL while making that one go away.
What's a tail pile ?
Polioliolio
Member
Look online and apply for jobs in Japan.
I was a basement dweller until I got my job in Japan at age 25 too actually.
I'm back in the US now after 3 years there, but it was an amazing experience and after a couple months there, my Japanese language skills improved greatly.
Don't sweat too much. Just learn and move forward.
I was a basement dweller until I got my job in Japan at age 25 too actually.
I'm back in the US now after 3 years there, but it was an amazing experience and after a couple months there, my Japanese language skills improved greatly.
Don't sweat too much. Just learn and move forward.
I wouldn't say have more confidence. I would say have more awareness and foresight. If you know you are prone to fuck up, establish safety measures. Provide yourself an out.
It's not simply about turning things around, but at the same time it is. No one can do these things for you. Despite how difficult it can be, you are ultimately responsible for your own fate.
Take it one step at a time, OP. You'll get there.
shadyspace
Banned
lol, I meant a tail pipe.
I also didn't know what a tailpipe is but google came to the rescue lol
For most states, if it can be reasonably proven you were drunk when you parked the car, yes. You had to get there somehow.
Mossybrew
Banned
OP I deal with people like yourself on a daily basis ( I work in Probation) - it's really this simple, there are two kinds of people that come into this office, first time offenders (usually around college age) and repeat offenders that simply never fucking learn.
I am a fairly heavy drinker to be honest, so I know the rules are EASY and way better than getting yourself in the system - simply never, ever drive after drinking even one beer, or the morning after heavy drinking. It's that simple.
You can:
1. Drink at home
2. Have a DD
3. Take a bus
4. Walk
5. Call a cab
There is simply no fucking excuse to drink and drive, EVER.
Yep. Generally the charge is slightly different - here it's called Physical Control - but the results are very similar.
And I don't want to advise against getting a lawyer - but in my experience people pay THOUSANDS of dollars and you know what you get for that? A chaperone through the process, your charges will most likely be the same as someone who has a public defender, but hey, you have someone beside you who can tell you what's going to happen before some clerk does.
I am a fairly heavy drinker to be honest, so I know the rules are EASY and way better than getting yourself in the system - simply never, ever drive after drinking even one beer, or the morning after heavy drinking. It's that simple.
You can:
1. Drink at home
2. Have a DD
3. Take a bus
4. Walk
5. Call a cab
There is simply no fucking excuse to drink and drive, EVER.
Yep. Generally the charge is slightly different - here it's called Physical Control - but the results are very similar.
And I don't want to advise against getting a lawyer - but in my experience people pay THOUSANDS of dollars and you know what you get for that? A chaperone through the process, your charges will most likely be the same as someone who has a public defender, but hey, you have someone beside you who can tell you what's going to happen before some clerk does.
Trying to plea this down is huge too b/c a lot of employers are doing background checks now. It's tough enough to find a good job as it is, so having any example of significantly poor decision making on a criminal record certainly won't help.
shadyspace
Banned
Nah, the keys need to be in the vehicle. You can't get a DUI if you can't operate the vehicle.
flatearthpandas
Member
Still cheaper to grab a taxi. As i said, I do know a guy who was convicted sleeping in his car with keys out of the ignition. I met him in court mandated therapy for a DUI, which would be a bizarre place to lie about the details, but of course he could have been lying. I personally wouldn't risk it
The safest answer, really, is if you aren't the DD, don't drive your car to the bar. Just don't even put yourself in the situation. Work taxi fare into the night's budget, have zero worries about the law, and sleep in your own bed. Plus, all of this is organized while you're good and sober.
Zeus Molecules
illegal immigrants are stealing our air
Don't hang out with that girl again.....
SaganIsGOAT
Junior Member
Mistakes happen OP. Best thing you can do is learn and grow because of this situation. 👍
You can get a DUI if the prosecution can prove that you operated the vehicle while impaired. And reasonable inferences can supply that proof if there's no other credible explanation. It's obviously a more difficult case than if you are actually caught behind the wheel, but not impossible. Sleeping in your car but still drunk is iffy ... if you're parked near the bar where you were drinking you can credibly claim you came out of the bar and decided not to drive. But if you're sleeping in the car in a bank parking lot at 3am and there are no bars nearby and no alcohol containers in the car and you're drunk when found, you can lose. If you wreck your car and walk away but get picked up down the road and you're drunk, you can lose.
titiklabingapat
Member
Always take a taxi every time.
Or Uber and Lyft.
You have no excuses, OP. Unless Uber isn't available in your area.
Or Uber and Lyft.
You have no excuses, OP. Unless Uber isn't available in your area.
Laieon
Member
If Japan is anything like Korea, he might not be able to teach English there since this would show up on a criminal record (I'm guessing). I know Japan is apparently harder to get a teaching job in then Korea, and in Korea if your record isn't spotless you're probably not getting a teaching job (due to visa requirements).
thestagbeetle
Banned
No sympathy here. That's one hell of a sob story to cover the fact that you pretty much did the same thing as pointing a loaded gun at every person you passed. I hope you're learning a lesson.
good lord. way to be as negative as possible!
flatearthpandas
Member
You can. Just don't tell anyone about it. You won't be able to get a JET job because they require you to request your own FBI record and give it to them but that's the only way they'll really find out. If he's convicted, something tells me his probation officer won't be approving a move to Japan though...
Probation for a 1st offense DUI is pretty unlikely. He's probably already served more than half the jail sentence he'll get. And there'll be a fine, and a temporary license suspension followed by a safety class and using the blow-and-go thing in his car for a while. But not probation.
OP should also know that the punishment for subsequent DUI offenses typically much worse. Second offense is commonly a minimum 6 months jail sentence (often done on home confinement, which is very expensive) plus a much longer license suspension. And third offense is usually a felony.
Reading that and all I have to say is, you've got to get more respect for yourself, bro. Easier said than done but somehow get that. You should have demanded a ride home because that's what you were promised. No matter what. Even if your friend wasn't being genuine about the help, as a human being you at least deserved a way to get home.
You've fucked up for sure but maybe you've finally hit rock bottom and now you can build yourself up into something better. Also yeah, next time take a taxi or Ubery/Lyft.
You've fucked up for sure but maybe you've finally hit rock bottom and now you can build yourself up into something better. Also yeah, next time take a taxi or Ubery/Lyft.
Mossybrew
Banned
I can only speak for my county up in the Pacific Northwest but this is not true at all here.
Actual supervised probation where you have to go in and visit with the probation officer periodically for 1st offense DUI? Wow. (and I wish that happened here)
flatearthpandas
Member
I don't know anyone who didn't get probation for a first offense. The states we're familiar with clearly have different perspectives on how to deal with this. OP says his state is pretty harsh so I would expect probation. Where I'm from you're looking at mandatory therapy as well and, with a .13, possibly track B or C, which can last 9 months or so.
A Fish Aficionado
I am going to make it through this year if it kills me
Everyone makes mistakes.
Take care of yourself dude.
If you do have an addiction, therapy might help. AA us useless for some.
Take care of yourself dude.
If you do have an addiction, therapy might help. AA us useless for some.
Maximus.
Member
If you plan on drinking, why the fuck are you even driving? I mean I understand 1 or 2 beers, but if you are going to a club/bar with the intention of getting drunk, that is completely on you. You also have friends that are kind of using you from the sounds of it. Who ditches you, makes you buy them drinks and then ditches you again?
I understand you clearly have some social issues and self esteem issues and I hope you have learned that alcohol or any drug is not a cover for your problems. You learned a huge lesson and will now have to deal with the consequences. Just be thankful you didn't hurt someone else with your irresponsibility.
I understand you clearly have some social issues and self esteem issues and I hope you have learned that alcohol or any drug is not a cover for your problems. You learned a huge lesson and will now have to deal with the consequences. Just be thankful you didn't hurt someone else with your irresponsibility.
Mossybrew
Banned
Yep. Generally a first offense will only get you 1 to 2 years probation, even if downgraded to a Neg Driving 1st or Reckless Driving. Second offense is always 5 years from what I've seen. But like so many things that happen in court, it just depends on the judge.
Definitely. In my state (WV) the jail time is one day to 6 months and a fine of $100 to $500 if it's 1st offense and the BAC is under .15. And most people will get the one day sentence only, if they fold their cards and plead guilty.
In OP's state (VA, next door to me) there is no minimum jailtime if the BAC is under .15. The fine is $250 to $2500. If BAC over .15, it's minimum 5 days but I wouldn't be surprised if the courts allow home confinement most of the time. Plus there's a one year license suspension.
I'm pleasantly surprised to hear it's taken more seriously in other places. I wish 1st offense was taken more seriously here.
Bam Bam Baklava
Member
Get swole is not the answer to every problem dude.
Mossybrew
Banned
The worst is that once you're on Probation for DUI (or Neg 1st or Reckless) you have basically been found to be unable to use alcohol responsibly. So you are no longer allowed to drink, at all, for the duration of your probation. And this trips up so many people, they get caught on urinalysis tests or breath tests (the frequency that probationers actually come to probation or court legally drunk would astound you unless you have already given up on the human race) - and marijuana too - even though it's legal now in Washington once you're on Probation, nope, just like booze.
Escape Goat
Member
Going by OPs situation I think focusing on improving his physical self will benefit his mental state tremendously.
OP it's also worth looking (ahead of time) to see what services have grown up around the drinking and driving problem in your area. I was thinking about this b/c there was a service where I'm at that used people on small scooters. They'd come pick you up at a bar, throw the scooter in your trunk, and drive you home in your own vehicle. Then they're on their way after payment and tip.
They're insured and such, and the drivers are pre-screened. I'm sure things like this exist in many areas.
They're insured and such, and the drivers are pre-screened. I'm sure things like this exist in many areas.
CarpeDeezNutz
Member
Are you fucking serious? How many times have you witnessed it? How crazy was it? That sounds like some reality tv show waiting to happen.
Also, OP don't hangout with those two anymore they sound like they are enablers and using for your money. Have you spoken to them?
ZackieChan
Member
It's harsh, but these posts are on point. You basically made the wrong decision at every point in the night. You could ask someone how to get a cab? You need to see a therapist to deal with your social issues before you take on a responsibility like driving or going out and drinking. You were literally asked if it was okay if she left - right there you could have avoided everything. Now you need to deal with the consequences. Hopefully you've learned that you need help and will get it.
Mossybrew
Banned
In the office we've discussed how it would make a great reality show - or faux reality show like The Office. People are messed up dude, it happens on a weekly basis, people that know they are going to be breath-tested come in and blow positive. People come into court in front of the judge basically wearing pajamas and blow like a .2 when it's obvious. And so many times they deny it! Like the machine lies, it's ridiculous. Oh it must be my mouthwash I used this morning!
And it's not just your stereotype of the homeless drunk. We have had many old ladies that could be your kindly grandma in the same situation. Dudes that look like they just came from a business meeting. Hot college girls that should know better. And yeah, people that look like, and probably did, sleep under a bridge last night.
SaganIsGOAT
Junior Member
In this case it is
Sir Abacus
Member
First of all, call your insurance agency and find out how much a DUI charge and a wet reckless will increase your rates.
If the wet reckless is slightly higher (an amount you can stomach) or lower then use some of your $7000 savings, get a good DUI lawyer and see if by some miracle you can plead down to wet reckless. It'll halve the amount of time you're suspended along with saving money on the fine and the inevitable ignition interlock.
TheStruggler
Report me for trolling ND/TLoU2 threads
No sympathy from me what so ever, I dont care if your life is shit and what happened you could have killed someone out there, I have lost 3 very very very close friends to drunk drivers and shit like this pisses me off I dont care if your parents will be mad or worried that they have to pick you up, you're a damn adult grow up and start acting like one.
dam
Bam Bam Baklava
Member
"Getting swole" is just one form of improving his physical self. Not the only way.
And keys can't be in ignition.
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