DUI questions
no jail for me,except for he night I spent when I got arrested VASAP, 1 year suspended license, high ass insurance. ~3000 in court and legal costs, and an sr-22. Luckily no one including myself were injured.
It can vary like everyone said... you can get off the first one with a fine, or you can get slammed. I've got a good friend that I haven't seen because he's been in jail for the past 6 months and he's got 12 to go. And it was for his 2nd offense.
Originally Posted by SpeedJunkie
You would be suprised how functional some people are at the legal limit, I seriously regret what I did but I felt completely capable. The officer did not know I was drunk other than the smell of liquor on me.
I agree that some people can function(not as well as they would sober) but there's more than smelling liquor on you and then they take you to jail.
He had to offer you tests to take(at the traffic stop). If you fail them, then you're taken for the breath test.
People "feel" they are fine and functional but the truth is that it will slow your reaction time and makes it harder(not impossible) to focus on multiple things at once. That's what the tests do. They make you consentrate on different things at once(I think they call it divided attention tests...could be wrong though).
There are sites all over the internet that will tell you about them.
Tell your friend to get an attorney. As far as fines and punishment, it will some what depend on the city but the state has guidelines for the minimum and maximum punishment(fines and jail time) for DUI. You should be able to find in on the internet somewhere. I'll see if I can find it. If all else fails, tell him to ask an attorney or call the court house for the worse case senerio punishment.
Good luck
off topic but hey alimac you were tailgating me about two weeks ago on the on ramp towards norfolk ahaha its all good cause i was in a minivan going slow ass shit cause i thought i was going to flip im used to the low talon
Originally Posted by vbgsx
What was the reason he pulled you over?
I agree that some people can function(not as well as they would sober) but there's more than smelling liquor on you and then they take you to jail.
He had to offer you tests to take(at the traffic stop). If you fail them, then you're taken for the breath test.
People "feel" they are fine and functional but the truth is that it will slow your reaction time and makes it harder(not impossible) to focus on multiple things at once. That's what the tests do. They make you consentrate on different things at once(I think they call it divided attention tests...could be wrong though).
There are sites all over the internet that will tell you about them.
I agree that some people can function(not as well as they would sober) but there's more than smelling liquor on you and then they take you to jail.
He had to offer you tests to take(at the traffic stop). If you fail them, then you're taken for the breath test.
People "feel" they are fine and functional but the truth is that it will slow your reaction time and makes it harder(not impossible) to focus on multiple things at once. That's what the tests do. They make you consentrate on different things at once(I think they call it divided attention tests...could be wrong though).
There are sites all over the internet that will tell you about them.
He pulled me for going 13 over the speed limit. I admit I was stupid because my cars speedometer did not work, but hell I was stupid every day I drove that car that way when I was legally sober.
As far as test on the roadside he said I failed the test that you have to follow the pen with only your eyes while he shines the flashlight behind it. The trick to see if someone fails is if the eyes have a un-smooth path as they follows it (unsteady movement). I have a stigmatism (I am farsighted) which means I cannot see when something is directly in front of my face. I don't know if that effects the test, however I also have no way to say my eyes did or did not do that, nor does the camera in the police cruiser. Once I so called failed this test it means that under the agreement I signed when I applied for a Virginia Drivers License that I agree to take a breathalyzer if there is any question of my sobriety.
I am not justifying what I did, I took my punishment and did not really fight because I did break the law and was in the wrong. However some people handle intoxication better than others and the law was set at the lowest limits which are the people who do not handle it well. That night I felt fully functional.
By the way I managed to walk a straight line 10 steps each way counting each one. Touch the tip of my nose each time perfectly. Recite the alphabet without signing it and stopping at T. All of that without a flaw.
I served the punishment for what I did, the only point of saying that some people are fully function when they get a DUI is so that people will know that something crappy things can happen even when you feel fine. Something like my incident or something even worse that could land you some serious time in jail and leave you feeling guilty and remorseful the rest of your life.
Last edited by SpeedJunkie; May 18, 2004 at 03:51 PM.
I got a $250 fine, forced to take VASAP ($275 and 10 Wednesday nights ruined), and my liscense restricted for a year. No community service, and 4 hours jailtime in the drunk tank the night I was actually pulled over, no additional time.
It all depends on what you blew, the city, the judge, etc. There are so many variables there's no way to tell what your friend will end up getting.
I'd say get a lawyer, but it didn't help me any. My advice would be go in, plead guilty, and hope for the best. Hopefully they didn't blow over a .18, 'cause that's where shit gets shitty.
It all depends on what you blew, the city, the judge, etc. There are so many variables there's no way to tell what your friend will end up getting.
I'd say get a lawyer, but it didn't help me any. My advice would be go in, plead guilty, and hope for the best. Hopefully they didn't blow over a .18, 'cause that's where shit gets shitty.








