I think i'm boned and I need some advice/insight as to what is to come

[stevenjsan]

I'm a 21 year old kid in mississippi.

I was driving home from the bar last night when i was pulled over by my local pd. Now I have 5 charges stacked against me: DUI, no insurance, driving with suspended license, driving with no headlights(oops), and running a red light(i didnt realize how drunk i was).
I did my job and said nothing i did not need to and I have court in a few weeks. Do you think I will have jail time??? Is there anything I should do now to make my road easier???

[elmuchoprez]

I'm a 21 year old kid in mississippi.
At 21, the only person who still considers you a kid is your mother.

I did my job and said nothing...
You're probably going to need to get a job that pays better before this is all said and done.

Do you think I will have jail time?
It's possible for a first offense, but not that likely. That said, if your license was already suspended, it sounds like there might be some aggravating circumstances.

Is there anything I should do now to make my road easier?
Get a lawyer. You've got a lot going against you. The judge probably isn't going look kindly on the fact that with a suspended license and no insurance, you had no business being behind the wheel of a car even if you were stone sober.

[>Charlotte<]

Do you have any prior DUIs? Why are you uninsured, and why is your license suspended?

[stevenjsan]

My license has been suspended since '06 they say... and if i'm not mistaken it is because of old traffic tickets that i did not pay on. i dont have insurance because everywhere i go the cheapest for full coverage is 375 a month!!!! liability probably is not a significant amount cheaper either. oh and i refused the breath test at the station too because my licence is already suspended... whats 90 days gonna do except piss off the judge. oh and i have to pick up a second job if i dream of surviving now... i get my truck back tomorrow... do you think they will let me drive to my jobs?? because if not they cant get their money.

[>Charlotte<]

So: you got tickets, and now you're complaining that you can't afford the insurance. Your brilliant solution was to just keep driving with no insurance? Plus, what did you think was going to happen when you just didn't pay the tickets? Although you didn't care if you were driving without insurance, so I don't know why I'd think you'd care that you didn't have a license. But that's not bad enough, so let's get a DUI on top of that!

Do I think they'll let you drive?? Are you serious? Are you drunk now??

Yes, I think you'll get jail time. But you might not. Here's some good advice: don't drive.

On the bright side, if you can't drive to the bar maybe the money you'll save by not buying booze can be used to pay some of your fine.

You need a lawyer, and you need a lawyer now.

[FlyingRon]

Gosh I hope not. You want a restricted license when you've twice been caught driving without a license. You won't have the required financial responsibility because you're too cheap to pay for it. You have no business being behind the wheel. If you did this in my state, you'd be doing 60 days (possibly with some of it suspended).

[Steve Henderson]

Ditto to everything mentioned above. Its people like you that keep my insurance rates high. In TX you might get probation for that (if it was a first offense), but you would most likely be ordered not to drive. Then when you could drive, you get our lovely $3000 surcharge for putting the public at risk. You sound fairly flippant about your DWI, so you might want to think about humbling up before you appear infront of a Judge. I dont know how it is there, but in TX, 3 DWIs = Felony, which 9.5 times out of 10 = prison.

[stevenjsan]

wow... i did not realize that i would anger so many people for asking for help. Yes I made a mistake and I understand the effects of my actions but I am just trying to ask for advice, not bash or start arguments with you well qualified, more intelligent individuals. My apologies for wasting your time.

[BigMistakeFl]

Not sure what exactly your questions are, but here goes.....

Yes, get a second job and make sure it's within walking or biking distance or get familiar with public transportation.

No, it isn't likely you'll be granted a "hardship" license.

You will have to find a way for them to "get their money" for any fines. If you fail to pay, a warrant can be issued for your arrest.

It is tough to survive on low wages in today's world, but you have to see it through. You also need to get a lawyer and not expect to appear in court alone. Your insurance is so high because of your poor driving record. It's going to take time and effort to overcome it now. You can do it, but you will struggle.

[stevenjsan]

but thanks for the advice clt

[>Charlotte<]

Originally Posted by stevenjsan

but thanks for the advice clt

Well, you're welcome. And I'm not angered. It's just very frustrating to see someone create a huge problem for themselves, and then complain that the consequences of his poor choices create a hardship. In other words, you can't afford the monetary consequences because you can't get a job because you can't drive because you can't afford the insurance because you blew off the tickets you got because you were speeding. And now the consequences are ten times worse because you chose to drink and drive. It makes me want to just smack you upside the head.

Life is probably going to be very hard for you for a while, and if you continue to make these boneheaded choices it's going to get even harder. Get a lawyer so that you can achieve the best possible outcome, but resign yourself to the fact that you're not going to just skate away from this without having to face some tough obstacles.

[stevenjsan]

Though I know a small amount about law myself, the one thing that I am clueless to is finding and dealing with an actual lawyer. Allow me to try and explain my living situation a small amount more. I live in a college town in mississippi- key word: mississippi. we dont make much here. Does anyone know if I have to pay the lawyer up front??? or can i make a payment plan with him? because with rent, cell phone, and now insurance and fines I wont have enough to just give him a fat lump sum of money. I will get a second job, as i have no choice- the public bus driver and I are probably going to become best buddies soon too. But mainly I'm asking you gurus about the lawyer thing- this is scary and I dont want one if I can research online and get the same information he has... but If you guys think its the best- I will bite the bullet and get on with it.

[stevenjsan]

My tickets have my name with the wrong middle initial. The police officer was looking directly at my card when he was writing these tickets. My 'jail' identification card thing they printed for me also had this error. And the news paper printed this error.... Maybe I could say the officer wasnt paying adequate attention to details???? or maybe you guys are just going to make me feel stupid for even trying..... Give it to me either way please.

[>Charlotte<]

Well I won't try to make you feel stupid because it's a pretty common misconception. But, no, that's not gonna fly.

[BigMistakeFl]

That sort of thing makes for good TV drama, but is not the loophole people may think it is.