Minnesota DWI and possible bad treatment in jail ??

[BigMistakeFl]

BigMistakeFl

As for getting the DA to reduce the charge, that's only a likely scenario if the evidence they have against you is flawed in some way. If they have BAC level over the limit, cop testimony, video of you doing poorly during the arrest, your admission that you had consumed, and any other witnesses, the DA is probably not going to reduce charges. If they don't have much evidence against you, or will have trouble proving you were impaired while driving, then it is possible to get it reduced. The DA's office gives these misdemeanor cases to the new lawyers who are hungry. They want convictions; that's what it's about. That's how they get ahead.

 

[Lisa101010]

OK well, thanks for the advice.

Once again, I am hearing many different things from many different people!!!

How can that be? This case should be so cut and dry -- the law really is not fair at all if so many different things can happen to different people who committed the same crime. It makes no sense.

Also, it makes no sense that I hear different things from different attorneys. You people handle these types of cases all the time, every day, and yet, you still do not know how they work. It should be so very, very easy.

Lawyers keep trying to scare me with things like "if you go to the first hearing and try to pled it down yourself, the prosecutor will throw a bunch of legal terms around you can't understand." What.. am I mentally handicapped? No, I am college educated and I work with lawyers every day. I translate legal terms into language common people can understand for a living. I highly doubt I would be so very confused. And, why did one lawyer tell me I didn't need a lawyer for the first hearing? Was he lying to me? Why do some lawyers tell me to file the civil case and others say its not worth it? Who is telling the truth?

Come on, who is right, who is just trying to get money out of me. I do feel that having the right lawyer will be advantageous. However, I can't trust any of you people! You really need to just give straight advice and stop lying. You are supposed to help people!

 

[Lisa101010]

Sorry for the rant. It is just very frustrating.

I did find out that my employer offers access to an attorney referral service that gives a 25% discount, so I am trying to go through them. However, the first firm they hooked me up with was the deceased Johny Cochran's firm, which of course was extremly expensive even with a discount. But, they wanted to fight EVERYTHING. If these are the best lawyers and they want to fight everything, shouldn't I trust them? So, in that sense, I can take their advice, but use a cheaper lawyer - what's the difference?

 

[Lisa101010]

"As for getting the DA to reduce the charge, that's only a likely scenario if the evidence they have against you is flawed in some way."


BS!!! They reduce the charge in almost all cases like mine!! What are you thinking???? I have a first time, low blood/alcohol offense. I sure hope you aren't a lawyer!!!

 

[Shay-Pari'e]

Too bad there is no more dumb post contest ....you would have won! What an idiot!

https://forum.freeadvice.com/showthread.php?t=299226

No one can be this stupid.

 

[Shay-Pari'e]

Dont waste any money on an attorney. I am glad I didnt, my outcome was good without one. I blew a .27 which is an Extreme DUI. (my first offense ever)

So I was facing mandatory jail time a min. of 14 days, 3,000.00 fine, 6 months suspended license, and have an ignition device on my vehicle which costs around 1500.00. Plus this and that, AA type things.

Well when it came time to deal with the DA I told her I could not except having an Extreme DUI. I just explained I didnt care about the fine, or even the jail time but I couldnt have an Extreme on my record nor did I want an ignition device. After going back and forth a couple times with a decision, she agreed to a regular DUI instead with 10 days in jail (which was a piece of cake, nice vacation from the 70hr work week), $3,000 fine, 90 day license suspension and some counseling.

I think if I would have gone in with a lawyer he couldnt have done much better than that since my BAL was so high. It would have ended up costing me an extra 3,000.00 for my lawyer to be there, anything else needed would be more $$.

As for your license....let that go. I had a suspended license, but still drove when I really needed too. Its only 90 days!

So just go in and talk to the DA when its your turn and explain you know your guilty but its your first time and you would like to plead it down to Careless driving (for your record) but you'll still do some of the regular DUI penalties. Like you'll probably not have to do anymore jail time since you already spent more than 24hrs. You'll pay a fine and have to do some counseling stuff. If the DA wont agree you still have time to tell them you want an extension, then you can get a lawyer if you are not happy with it.

I think I need the BS meter for this post, as you cannot possibly be this dumb.

 

[Happy Trails]

Since this is your first offense and you did not refuse to test for BAC, this is considered in MN to be---169A.27 Fourth-degree driving while impaired, which is a misdemeanor.

Go here for more information on MN DWI law:

It takes awhile to load.

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hrd/pubs/DWIover.pdf#search='DWI%20misdemeanor%20MN'

As to getting a lawyer, that is your call.

I know of a few people that did it themselves and some would have handled their case differently.

If your way of handling this is to bad mouth lawyers for the current laws on the books, your way of thinking is warped.

Why edit your post? Why don't you tell eveyone how you feel and keep it posted.

I am also a public relations person and I am about to quit my job and go on a campaign telling my story to the news media -- and I am going to bad mouth lawyers. You lawyers probably wanted the legal limit down to .08! Hell, why wouldn't you - look at how much more business it brings in!

But really, the .08 law has messed with people like me. I am an attractive young female. Tonight, I am about to board the city bus to get home. I will be riding it around the ghetto. I almost hope I am mugged and raped so I can tell my story about how that wouldn't have happened if I could drive. Taking my license away did more harm to society than good.

The world sucks! I am going to law school too... I'll do something about this - believe that!

 

[Shay-Pari'e]

I guess we will all just have to wait for her to take the city bus, to law school.

 

[john123456]

I have got to hang out on the DUI boards more often. They are a riot.

 

[Just Blue]

Since this is your first offense and you did not refuse to test for BAC, this is considered in MN to be---169A.27 Fourth-degree driving while impaired, which is a misdemeanor.

Go here for more information on MN DWI law:

It takes awhile to load.

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hrd/pubs/DWIover.pdf#search='DWI%20misdemeanor%20MN'

As to getting a lawyer, that is your call.

I know of a few people that did it themselves and some would have handled their case differently.

If your way of handling this is to bad mouth lawyers for the current laws on the books, your way of thinking is warped.

Why edit your post? Why don't you tell eveyone how you feel and keep it posted.

Ya gotta love it! She goes boozin' with her friends....drives...gets pulled over....gets arrested...and now wants to blame LAWYERS for the DUI Laws!!
Lisa, You need to go after MADD...They have a big part in the tough Drunk Driving Laws...See, They had children that were killed by people like you who drove drunk, so they worked real hard to get the laws changed....And they did!!

 

[screwedpooch]

I think I need the BS meter for this post, as you cannot possibly be this dumb.

I fail to see where you think what I said is BS. I am not going to post something in here that is untrue, why waste the time. Do people have to post their court records in order for people like you to believe we are able to take care of ourselves without lawyers?? Unlike some people on here, I am trying HELP people by telling how I f*cked up and what the outcome was. NOT bash people. People can use what I say or not.

 

[Lisa101010]

I don't necessarily think that lawyers actually lobbied to get the .08 law on the books. I definately am aware of MADD and that they were the main lobbying group behind the law.

However, my point still stands: lawyers must be receiving a lot more cases because of the .08 law, and more cases = more fees = more money.

Come on, just be honest.

And, I am frustrated at lawyers because you all advise different things. I wonder about the attorneys who suggest the most expensive route. Sure, they want to fight everything, but the reasons conflict with what other lawyers tell me. (example: one lawyer says to fight the revocation of my license, another says it isn't worth it -- and statistics show only 15% of people in Minnesota win, so it seems the less expensive lawyer is right).

As far as editing my post, I did so because I decided this isn't really a forum for bashing lawyers or starting fights. I am going to question what lawyers do/say, but I decided it was not necessary to tell you my profession or my plans. So I deleted it.

I am very frustrated about my whole situation. And, I think an attorney could help me. But, not when they make it more confusing and frustrating.

Does that make sense to you????

 

[BigMistakeFl]

BigMistakeFl

"BS!!! They reduce the charge in almost all cases like mine!! What are you thinking???? I have a first time, low blood/alcohol offense. I sure hope you aren't a lawyer!!!"

Nope, not a lawyer. I'm just a guy who was arrested for DUI about a year ago. I was angry at first, now I accept it as a cure. I come here to offer tips only from my experience and research in the subject, also to remind myself daily how it felt, lest I forget and repeat it.

I still contend that the DA's office does not reduce DUI charges very often. MADD lobby has made that very difficult. Elected or appointed officials don't quarrel with interest groups, especially one with a cause that involves injury or death. I totally understand your frustration. I would speak with a lawyer if I were you. The first meeting is free, and you can ask all the questions you want.

 

[weenor]

Just for Fun

Either get a lawyer or don't...Know one can promise you they you'll get an honest one for pete's sake. Quit bitching and use what ever common sense you have....As far as different answers????? Guess what- DUI is a political hot bed and judges and DAs are elected DUH!!! Sentencing and dealing varies with the day and with the person. Example - Two people charged with DUI #2 at roughly same time- One in Waukesha county WI, One in Milwaukee County WI- both blow about the same as far as %. Waukesha County boy gets 5 days, Milwaukee County gets 60 days. Why? Local news has just run a special on how Milwaukee County judges (elected by the people) were soft on DUI sentencing. Figure it out.

 

[BigMistakeFl]

BigMistakeFl

..... And the judge "soft on DUI" can pretty much start looking for another job before the next election.