First time DUI?

Ken C

Each State is different. What State please?

Loves Weezy

I would not get a note from a mental health professional or get evidence from your friends. Though your situation is unfortunate, it would appear that you are trying to get pity or blame your mistake on your personal problems. This will not sit well with a judge. When my bf got arrested for possesion, he went to outpatient rehab and AA meetings. If you started getting treatment on your own (even if you just made one mistake and are not an alcoholic), the judge will like this and let you off easier. Thank goodness you just got a DUI and weren't in a horrible accident. You'll probably get probation. Good luck.

eileezy2002

The judge will not want to hear your story, and probably won't even ask you questions. Just show up for your court date on time, dress presentable, and plead guilty/no contest. You'll be fined, have your license restricted, and will have mandatory community service, DUI and AA classes.

For a 1st offense, the judge won't be too harsh with you. Spending money on a lawyer is not worth it, especially since the fines for a DUI are steep! Best of luck!!

bbbriggs04

plead no contest, don't get a lawyer, pay the fines, restitution and dui classes and then do not drink and drive again. The dui classes quote that 80% of you will be returning. By not getting a lawyer you save money--the judge told me that everyone who gets a basic dui usually gets the same sentence regardless of lawyer.

cheri h

get a good criminal lawyer

Sparkles

You think you have financial problems now just wait for the fine, and your insurance premiums to be either triple or cancelled altogether. And no you should not bring it up because they really do not want to hear it. Just plead guilty, no attorney needed, and pay the fine.

milliecriollo

First take it easy. There's a first time for everything. Not to panic now. The judge may. Maybe give you a break. Or a fine to pay. IF he does give you one .Ask the judge, if you could pay it in Monthly payments At least you know you was wrong.The truth will set you free. If Not. Good Luck to you.

kajun

Judges like remorseful and responsible people. If you go in with a lot of excuses, the sentence will be harsher. Answer his questions exactly and to the point, do not ramble on and on about why you are the way you are. Say 'Yes Sir" and "No Sir" and let your lawyer do the rest.

whithuose

I'm waiting to go to court for my DUI first offense in VA. So I know what you are going through. Whether you have a lawyer or not, basically you are looking at fines, suspended license and asap classes. I hired one because in VA I'm looking at up to a year in jail. But you never know. Anything can happen in a court of law.

oldtimer

best you can do is be respectful and quietly accept the consequences. does no good to argue and be bitter. good luck

Orlando M

I believe that DUI is not a felony but only a misdemeanor.
If you are a first timer, the judge usually just fines you and make
you pay a fine. Don't worry too much about having money
for a lawyer for the court will provide you with a public
defender. As to your current problem, drinking is not a
solution, it will only make the matter worse. Better is that
you concentrate on your job or whatever undertaking you
are engage at present to straighten your life.

bob k

Sorry to say that you can probably get the DUI reduced to a lesser charge, but you would need a good attorney.

Dan the man

Everyone makes mistakes, its what you do next that matters. Knock it off with the drinking and driving, put it behind you buy GET AN ATTORNEY FOR SURE. They know the laws in your state and will save you a ton of money if nothing else. Good Luck

Tiffany O

erin a

Try and show youre making ammends by getting proffesional help. A letter from your doctor as you suggested is a good start but also try and get some counselling. You know you did wrong but prove it with action to the judge. Seek counselling, bring up you employment to show you are a solid citizen or if not employed, show your actively seeking work. Good luck

brabiebrats

You can kiss the judge's tail. That is about it. A note from a mental health professional to get you out? Yeah right.

Chris H

In Florida:
You'll probably get 6 months probation, $350 fine, have to go to DUI school, suspended license for 6 months. You have to go to the DMV to apply for a work permit during the period of your probation. You'll have court costs of $180, $20 State Attorney fee. There's a couple of other small, mandatory fees. Dress nice, be polite, say "yes, sir," and "no, sir," and whatever you do, don't whine and carry on. Just answer the questions. The judge is going to tell you what the maximum sentence is - don't freak out and pass out - that doesn't mean that's what he's going to sentence you to. He or the State Attorney will make you an offer - you plead today, you'll get (what I just listed above).
Nothing personal, long court calendars, long tenure - heard it all before - court personnel can get grouchy with you if you drone on and on.

Machine308

Get a Lawyer.Most Lawyers can get you off the hook.Based on the FST video( field sobriety test).Most Law Enforcement Officers have video camers in their car.Also lawyers can argue that the sobriety test machines were not accurate.The lawyer can check the machines logs.FST Testing Officers must test the machine with pure water not tap water.It has to be pure water with no impurites.Most of the time errors are found by the Lawyer.These facts can be presented to the jury.Most of the time the videos of the FST tests are very good.And before the court date the state might offer you a plea.A DUI is serious in most states it can stay on your record for life.Look at this as a mistake do better in the future.Get a lawyer.

smrtgy2000

my brother was killed by a drunk driver last week you should fell lucky that wants about to happen to you in court is all that's happened you could have killed someone face the music don't do it again if you really mean it the judge will know, if you have a drinking problem get help the life you take is not only your own

hilary duff

Why don't you call MADD and ask them? Thank goodness you didn't kill anyone. If you can't do the time, don't commit the crime.

silkbutterfly1973

Pay out the money for a good lawyer allot of times they can find a screw up in the polices paperwork and get it thrown out or reduced to something like reckless op.
my brother got out of 2 of them this was and believe me the 1200 he payed out in lawyer fees was very much so a better deal than admitting guilt ..

laurie

You might think that a lawyer is too much, but if you dont have one you will pay more. Both My sister and my brother got one the same week same road same cop and everything. They used the same lawyer. My brother got it bad but my sister is very shy and looked really sorry about what she did, and I think that is what got her a smaller fine and hardly any community service. Go to DUI school ASAP. It looks good. THIS IS A MUST! The court date could take months. I am so glad I read this because I just very recently got a DUI in California, and 2 months prior my brother had gotten a DUI. I cannot get over how retarded this whole thing was and feel so ashamed and irresponsible especially after my brother just got one a couple months ago. I am absolutely sure that I will never drive drunk ever. Getting a DUI was one of the most horrible experiences I've ever had and all we can do is learn from it and be thankful if you got lucky that no one was hurt.

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