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first dui what to expect

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ideekay

Junior Member
So I got my first dui and wrecked my car into a tree on a median on Sunday morning/Saturday night. Got arrested and blew a .13 at the station.. and I go to court in November. Now I live in Los Angeles California, and I'm tryna look up what's gonna happen and I see alot about this ignition interlock.. and it's scaring me lol but one page said it's only mandatory to first offenders who blow over .15.. so idk what to think. I expect to not be driving for about 4 or the months or so(need to save for a car lol). But I'd like to get a restricted licence to drive my girls or maybe parents car when given the opportunity. (It won't be everyday, once a week if that) so I know I'll be fined up the ass.. and have AA classes and some sort of driving class to take.. but what else? Someone please help..
 


Zigner

Senior Member, Non-Attorney
So I got my first dui and wrecked my car into a tree on a median on Sunday morning/Saturday night. Got arrested and blew a .13 at the station.. and I go to court in November. Now I live in Los Angeles California, and I'm tryna look up what's gonna happen and I see alot about this ignition interlock.. and it's scaring me lol but one page said it's only mandatory to first offenders who blow over .15.. so idk what to think. I expect to not be driving for about 4 or the months or so(need to save for a car lol). But I'd like to get a restricted licence to drive my girls or maybe parents car when given the opportunity. (It won't be everyday, once a week if that) so I know I'll be fined up the ass.. and have AA classes and some sort of driving class to take.. but what else? Someone please help..
You would be wise to get an attorney.
 

adjusterjack

Senior Member
but what else?
After the court tears you apart your insurance company will cancel your policy and the next time you get insurance (if you can get insurance) it'll cost you three times what it used to.

By the way, if you didn't join AA the day after the accident then you aren't taking your addiction to alcohol seriously enough and you can expect more DUIs in the future with even stiffer penalties and maybe permanent revocation of your driver license.

Join AA TODAY.

And hire a lawyer.
 

quincy

Senior Member
So I got my first dui and wrecked my car into a tree on a median on Sunday morning/Saturday night. Got arrested and blew a .13 at the station.. and I go to court in November. Now I live in Los Angeles California, and I'm tryna look up what's gonna happen and I see alot about this ignition interlock.. and it's scaring me lol but one page said it's only mandatory to first offenders who blow over .15.. so idk what to think. I expect to not be driving for about 4 or the months or so(need to save for a car lol). But I'd like to get a restricted licence to drive my girls or maybe parents car when given the opportunity. (It won't be everyday, once a week if that) so I know I'll be fined up the ass.. and have AA classes and some sort of driving class to take.. but what else? Someone please help..
If you were arrested in Los Angeles, the Ignition Interlock Device is mandatory, even for a first offense.

Here are two links, the first to California drunk driving laws and the second to Los Angeles-specific DUI laws:

http://www.california-drunkdriving.org/dui_penalties.html

http://losangeles.california-drunkdriving.org/

You will want to have an experienced attorney help you.
 
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FlyingRon

Senior Member
Actually, if he didn't get an attorney straight away he's not taking things seriously. He may wish to deal with an effective alcohol treatment program, but just joining AA as window dressing isn't likely to fix things.
 

ideekay

Junior Member
I'm not getting an attorney or lawyers it's just a waste of money I don't have, I know I'm guilty so there's no real point of having one. I just wanna know what consequences to expect or if anyone has experience of having a dui
 

FlyingRon

Senior Member
I'm not getting an attorney or lawyers it's just a waste of money I don't have, I know I'm guilty so there's no real point of having one. I just wanna know what consequences to expect or if anyone has experience of having a dui
The fact that you are asking the question indicates that you DO need the attorney. Just because you're guilty doesn't mean you need to throw yourself at the mercy of the prosecutors and court. An attorney can help steer you to sanctions that may be less severe than what you'd get if you go in cold.

You were already given links to pages with the sanction ranges. You should probably expect to not be driving for longer than 4 months if you don't have legal help. Standard is a year. Suffice it to say between your fines, class costs, insurance requirements, interlock fees, you can expect to pay a lot of money.
 
Been there Done that Don't do it anymore!

So I got my first dui and wrecked my car into a tree on a median on Sunday morning/Saturday night. Got arrested and blew a .13 at the station.. and I go to court in November. Now I live in Los Angeles California, and I'm tryna look up what's gonna happen and I see alot about this ignition interlock.. and it's scaring me lol but one page said it's only mandatory to first offenders who blow over .15.. so idk what to think. I expect to not be driving for about 4 or the months or so(need to save for a car lol). But I'd like to get a restricted license to drive my girls or maybe parents car when given the opportunity. (It won't be everyday, once a week if that) so I know I'll be fined up the ass.. and have AA classes and some sort of driving class to take.. but what else? Someone please help

What else?
First off, let me tell you there will be no upward warm and fuzzy anything that originates from the area in or around the aforementioned orifice. What you are most likely are going to feel, simply put, is your wallet draining....big time!
Lets look at a guessament of how much$$$ and yes to all my detractors, I'm pulling these numbers out of my *ss or from personal experience. They are M.S.R.P and have not been verified as to their correctness. So back off!

FINES, booking fees, and court costs could be as much as, $1000 to 3500.? or more. Attorney fees $1500 and up?Driving school, in the $1000 to 1200 range?
A SR-22 will be needed, that is something that you have to have to get your license back it shows that you have insurance coverage. which btw will go up $$$ you are now a most popular guy in town and at the mercy of anyone and everyone who will risk providing you with coverage.

That restrictive, license you're thinking about getting? forget about it, that is usually something reserved for people with jobs, to go to and from work. and make money to pay the fines they've manage to rack up
Driving miss Daisy won't cut it!
You totaled your car? add that.amount. What do you come up with?
a damn good reason to not drink let alone drive!!
Oh, you mentioned AA. classes They are called meetings, not classes and you are about to have your first one. Repete these words,
This too, shall pass.
and...
Keep coming back! It works if you work it!
There, you've gotten your first meeting out of the way and you have only the rest of your life to go.
I'm sorry this posting is a little long but the subject of drunk driving is something I am very passionate about. My son was killed by a drunk driver.
On the day of the accident, that drunk driver tore from my heart a part of me that can NEVER be replaced or repaired.
It's something that I will live with forever,
for you see,
that drunk driver
was me.
 

ideekay

Junior Member
Thank you, you've been alot of help, and thank you for not lecturing me like most of the others, I understand I've done a really bad thing and I know I'm not driving every again, it's poison. I'm sorry to hear about your loss
 

TigerD

Senior Member
Thank you, you've been alot of help, and thank you for not lecturing me like most of the others, I understand I've done a really bad thing and I know I'm not driving every again, it's poison. I'm sorry to hear about your loss
You are being ridiculous.
It's a DUI/DWI not Murder 1.

You know nothing about the law or the highly specialized area of DWI/DUI defense. You absolutely need an attorney. You needed to get one the day after your arrest.

TD
 

Eekamouse

Senior Member
You are being ridiculous.
It's a DUI/DWI not Murder 1.

You know nothing about the law or the highly specialized area of DWI/DUI defense. You absolutely need an attorney. You needed to get one the day after your arrest.

TD
C'mon folks. Let's not be naive. This guy won't let the loss of his license and his DUI conviction stop him from getting behind the wheel.
 

ideekay

Junior Member
I was drunk. Breathalyzer caught it. Rocked my car. There's nothing to defense. I got caught red handed. I'm not gonna wast money I don't have on something I know I did. You're the one acting like it's murder saying I need an attorney.
 

quincy

Senior Member
I was drunk. Breathalyzer caught it. Rocked my car. There's nothing to defense. I got caught red handed. I'm not gonna wast money I don't have on something I know I did. You're the one acting like it's murder saying I need an attorney.
It tends to be the smart person who hires an attorney to help with a DUI defense, not because the person didn't do what they are accused of doing but because an attorney can work with the prosecutor to get the best possible outcome for the person based on the facts of the arrest.

But, if you want to risk having the DUI on your criminal record when there is a slight chance the charge can be reduced or dismissed or the sentence lightened, it is your right to make that decision. The prosecutor and the judge are not likely to reward your honesty by reducing the penalties of your offense.

I would hate for you to make any decision that can affect your future in the drastic way a DUI conviction can without at least being fully informed of the consequences. Please read through the links provided - and, again and to repeat what has already been advised several times, seek the help of an attorney in your area experienced in DUIs.

Good luck.
 

CdwJava

Senior Member
I was drunk. Breathalyzer caught it. Rocked my car. There's nothing to defense. I got caught red handed. I'm not gonna wast money I don't have on something I know I did. You're the one acting like it's murder saying I need an attorney.
If you cannot afford an attorney one will be appointed for you. It is almost certain that the DA will not negotiate with you absent an attorney, and there may be options available to you that could mitigate the financial and criminal aspects of the offense if you have an attorney. It's possible that you might be eligible for a plea to a "wet reckless" per VC 23103.5 rather than a DUI if you are otherwise eligible. You never know!

Best to have that legal advice rather than roll the dice and HOPE for the best.
 

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