BG Advice: Friend got a DUI on Friday....

[Meresgi]

If she had posted nudes in this thread before the DUI incident all would have been fine. It's her own fault.

But honestly, she won't get that much because the laws concerning DUIs and penalties are pretty fucking stupid. Wife got hit by a drunk driver, his 3rd offense, totaled her vehicle, broke her ribs and punctured her lung and gave her PTSD over the whole thing, fucked up her sister and brother in law too.

Guy got 2 months jail time because he has a kid.

Drinking and driving is just dumb as shit, everyone should know that by now and what effect it has on you, even a few beers. I've done some stupid ass shit in my life but never driven drunk.

[Denchi]

Yeah, if she finds a good enough lawyer she may get it reduced. If not...then no license for a while, just have to deal with it.

She's not going to do it again, definitely not the type to, learned her lesson, etc. She did have some funny stories about the other girls that were locked up for the night with her, though. One 18 year old who "didn't give a fuck" and another chick who was worried about her parents finding out because they were going to buy her a new car. Lulz.

[Suvhater]

Step 1) Get drunk
Step 2) Call AAA or any of a half-dozen different roadside assistance programs i am involved in.
Step3) Enjoy your drunken stupor as the tow truck driver delivers you and your ride home safely.

[Cream Soda]

If you were in FL, I'd recommend my uncle's attorney.

Got him off of 11 assault charges and manufacturing marijuana in the house (91 plants when the cops raided the house). Been arrested an average of more than once per year since I've lived with him (9 years) and the most he's done is 30 days in jail and 6 months probation.

[Acevalefor]

Step 1) Get drunk
Step 2) Call AAA or any of a half-dozen different roadside assistance programs i am involved in.
Step3) Enjoy your drunken stupor as the tow truck driver delivers you and your ride home safely.

This.

Some tow companies will do it for free on big party nights as well. New Years, Independence Day, Mardi Gras, Cinco De Mayo. AAA ORegon/Idaho pays their drivers for these calls and it costs you nothing. Also, Yellow Cab and Radio Cab both have discounted rates in Portland for drunk taxi rides home on those big party nights. The idea is to encourage you to take a cab by making it cheaper than driving, paying for gas, parking, etc.

[SwampdonkeyPLD]

-refusal of blood/breath 3rd offense (Class 1 Misdemeanor)

That's a criminal offense in Virginia? That just feels wrong.

[Callisto]

That's a criminal offense in Virginia? That just feels wrong.

It's illegal in most states, in IL it basically amounts to auto-guilty plea to DUI.

[Gadritan]

That's a criminal offense in Virginia? That just feels wrong.

What Qal said.

You lose your license for a year automatically if you refuse in NC. I don't drink at all (literally) anymore, but my lawyer did advise me long ago to go this route the first time if I think there's even a chance I'd blow over .08. He said it's infinitely easier to get your full driving privelages back in a timely fashion, plus you don't have an actual DUI charge on your record. The ladder has become more and more important since so many companies are now asking if you've ever been charged for certain crimes, not just convicted. Can't recall the punishment for a second refusal, but it's pretty harsh, that's why he said only for the first time.

[Kalmado]

First hand experience of DUI in Florida here from 2009. Was passed out in my car after getting wasted in a club. Rolled my windows down and forgot to remove the keys from the ignition. First traffic ticket in 5 years. Never been in jail, convicted of anything, etc. Got a lawyer right away. Penalties included:

License suspended for 9 months
Restricted license (work, necessities of life like food, laundromat, etc) for 3 months
Around $1k in fines
DUI "school" once a week for 2 months
Victim Impact Panel
Alcohol counciling for 12 sessions
Piss test once every 2 weeks for 12 months

All together the cost of this was somewhere in the ballpark of $6k. This includes paying for the victim panel, getting my license reinstated a number of times because of it going to restricted, insurance costs, etc. I blew a .16. The lawyer didn't do much for me other than extending the case longer than it needed to. He did save me from having a breathilizer installed on the ignition of my car. Typically in Florida, that is mandatory if you blow over .15.

Very hard lesson to learn. Ever since, I either would walk to the bar/club or take a cab, DD, etc.

edit: in FL, if you refuse to blow, it's automatic 12 month suspension of your license.

[bluefan]

It's illegal in most states, in IL it basically amounts to auto-guilty plea to DUI.

Reminds me of Byfugliens little boat trip rofl.

But seriously, fuck people who get behind the wheel after drinking. Wish they would only kill/badly injure themselves =/

[Dolmen]

That's a criminal offense in Virginia? That just feels wrong.

Based on how it's worded, I *think* he refused to even give a blood test at the station. In Virginia you're allowed to refuse the roadside breath test, but that means you're going to the station for a more accurate test. Refusal of the breath/blood test at the station gets your license revoked for 1 year.

Edit - After further looking into it, I'm not sure if you're allowed to refuse the roadside saying you want the test at the station. There's a lot of fuzziness in the explanations. I just remember something from school saying that you could pass on the roadside, but not the station test.