1st Offense DUI(underage), 2 counts of Possesion - Help!

[daconkiftador]

What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state? Idaho

On thursday night I got pulled over for speeding(45/25zone). When the cop came to do window he asked me if I knew what the speedlimit was, I said no, than he said my eyes were a little bloodshot.. wondering if I had been drinking. Wel he comes back after running my info an asks me to do some field tests(stupid if i woulda known to say no I would have!!). Anways, i failed the sobreity tests an got cuffed to be taken down to the station for DUI. By the way, i just turned 20 this month(9/10/85). Well my friend in the car who is 18, admitted to owning the open container next to his feet, but than the cops found a marijauna pipe, and an UNopened 32oz beer behind the seat. I denied both the UNOPENED beer behind my seat(in a brown bag) and the pipe in my jockeybox. Once I got down to the station, I blew a .13 on the breathalizer..so DUI, an he charged me with two counts of possesion aswell; drug paraphanilia and underage possesion of alkehol. No traffic tickets. I was released the next morning by the judge on my on reconasinze(sp)? my pre-trial date is on the 11th of October.

Right now, after reading quite a few of these posts/threads, im wondering if I should try an hire a lawyer or just bite the punishment because of the "evidence" against me. This is my first drinking/drug ticket, ive had a few speeding tickets, but still im hoping to get a plea bargain? Plus my job requires me to drive(non-comercial), so I would also like to get a work permit. Ive contacted a couple lawyers that were reffered to me as "the man", but he wants upwards of around $4000, an I dont have ANY way of coming up with cash like that. If anyone's got some advice or help, it would be appreciated! thanks; andRu

Expected jail time/probation?
Fines?
DUI classes?
How long does a DUI stay on your record?
(as far as having to run a SR22?)
Cant ever go to Canada now?

[Son of Slam]

All is not lost if you can say, "Would you like fries with that?"


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[daconkiftador]

^^ haha sweet answer @sswipe.

I posted on here to try an get some advice, thats it. I know what i did was wrong an STUPID, im happy that I didnt end up hurting anybody tho, an now im just trying to find out what my next move should be, so i can deal with this like an adult. soo if you got any advice or help, please let me know.. but if you'v only got some "words of inspiration" like SoS, why dont you just save your time & kiss your momma with those lips. thanks; andRu

Ive been thinking of maybe bein "pro-active" joining some kind of AA or DUI class, to try an show the courts or DA that I know I was wrong, an atleast Im making an effort to show it. What about a deffurred sentence of joining the army or military since it seems that NEED troops? Anybody?

[garrula lingua]

Fine - up to $1000
Jail - 2 days to 6 mo

License susp - usu 180 days, with first 30 absolute & remainder restricted;
but......under 21, appears to be 1 year suspension

Alcohol Evaluation = must attend & follow recommendation

Attend victims panel

1-2 years of probation - may be supervised

Some parts of Idaho have DUI Courts - lesser sentences (jail) for alcohol programs

Beginning AAs can't hurt**************......Good luck

[daconkiftador]

Do you think I should join an AA even tho Im really not a alkeholic, just to kinda show im being pro-active about my wrong doing? Ive got another appointment with a lawyer tomorrow, but i appreciate the help from here!

Plus with all the evidence against me, would it even be worth trying to get a lawyer to fight it or try an get it reduced down to something else? otherwise i think Il just end up getting a court appointed attourny an bite my consequences =/

[daconkiftador]

If I signed up for a "Alcohol Evaluation" and DUI class([url]http://www.tomwilsoncounseling.com/dui.html[/url]) from a certified IDAHO state counseling, before even going to court to try an show that Im bein "pro-active", will they order me to have another eval/class taken after the conviction? let me know what you guys think.. thanks; andRu

[BigMistakeFl]

Here in Florida, the DUI classes and MADD Victim Impact Panel are both required following this type of arrest. I got them done with in advance, on the advice of my lawyer. I don't think the judge ever saw that I'd done these, but the probation officer did. That started my relationship off with that office on a very good footing. Plus, getting a jump start on the penalties just helps you get through them more quickly and lets you concentrate on things like getting rides to work and so forth.

[daconkiftador]

I met with another attourney today an he told me that his retainer is going to be $1500.. thats basically only for him to plea an bargain for me. He said the only thing I can hope for is any "holes" or "errors" in the police report/arrest, an even if so its only going to cost me more to pursue. So pretty much Ive got a clean cut DUI, as far as he can tell without looking at the state's case against me.

Also, he told me that he thinks I make too much a year to be eligible for a pubic attorney, but isnt it based off income/bills? Ive got 2 car payments, dentist bill, credit card bill, an some other misc bills, that add up to a more than half my monthly income. So Im going to go down to the courthouse tomorrow an try to apply for a public defender.

What Im thinking right now is to find a "cheaper" lawyer not to try an defend me, but more just to plea bargain the DUI for me. Maybe on the 11th when I go into the pre-trial, they'l offer to drop the two possesions if I plead guilty to the DUI. That maybe the route I want to take, if Ive got a lawyer to try an plea my penalities to a minimum. I just dont want to go into court by myself just lost to all these terms an what not. A friend of mine told me where to go to sign/start the DUI classes, so Im hoping to do that before I go to court, even if its only to get a jumpstart on whats upcoming for me. Also, another friend is going to get a lawbook for me to look over to try an comprehend some of the stuff they'l be tryin to throw at me!

So do I want to pay 5k for the chance of not being convicted, or maybe just man up an bite the bullet?? its a gamble both ways.. do the crime, do the time i guess =/ thats startin to really relate now.

PS. if anyone else is readin because this might relate to their case.. i asked about a deffered conviction if I join the military, an the lawyer basically told me its hard to do these days because of the military wantin everything cleared up legally before completly accepting you.

If anyones got any suggestions.. please let me know.. thanks; andRu