First DUI.. Clean Record... Family's Insurance

[hockeygirl8585]

What is the name of your state? PA

Hi, I got arrested for a DUI last Thursday after driving about 100 feet, but I know it was still a horrible thing to do. I tested a .14 i think although I'm not sure because I haven't received word about it yet. What I was wondering now is what will happen to me because it's my first time offense and the officer said I was very polite and would probably get off lightly. I also have yet to tell my parents seeing how I'm 19, however I'm on their car insurance plan. Will they immediately find out about the DUI or when will they find out and if I'm only fined lightly and I pay it in full immediately will the insurance co. still be notified? Also, I'm not going to get a lawyer because I'm studying to become a lawyer and I think I'm perfectly capable of accepting responsibility for the incident and telling what happened on my own. How should I go about talking to the DA?

Thanks a bunch...

[Bravo8]

For starters, the court will probably require you be represented by counsel if you plan on accepting any plea agreement. If you chose to represent yourself, they will likely require you to got the full gamut - Preliminary Hearing, Trial, etc - which will nulify your chance of accepting a plea agreement involving ARD. If nothign else, at least a Public Defender should satisfy your needs.

The courts will not notify the insurance company, however if your insurance company checks your driving history, they will see it there and that will drastically increase your rates. Your parents will be quite curious when they receive notice that their rates have skyrocketed or that they have been dropped by their company all together.

Not only that, but your parents might get suspicious when you can no longer drive due to a suspended driver's license.

I'd suggest just coming clean with them. I'm sure they'll be pissed off, but I'd assume they would be twice as pissed when they find out anyway and you weren't upfront with them.

[stephenk]

"I'm not going to get a lawyer because I'm studying to become a lawyer and I think I'm perfectly capable of accepting responsibility for the incident and telling what happened on my own."

At age 19, how much law have you studied? don't count the time you spent in lock-up after the dui arrest.

[hockeygirl8585]

I just mean .. is a lawyer gonna make that much of a difference? And if so what? I've never been in trouble with anything before so I need all the help I can get. Wouldnt a lawyer end up costing me more? Is there any way the charges will be dropped or I'll just get a fine cause it's my first offense. This happened to my friend like a month ago and she just got a $450 fine.