Anyone with DUI experience. Please Help Me

Question

I'm 18 and I got a DUI a week ago. I'm unsure what to do. My record is clean. I do not want this on there. And I don't want to loose my license for 90 days. I have the possibility to get the best lawyer possible who says he can clean it up for $5,000. But is it worth it? Can I get a cheaper lawyer who might be able to do the same thing? Or do I get no lawyer and wait for the prosecutor to offer me a plea bargain.

what do i do!!!?

Please Help

btw, I was sleeping in my car not even driving so

don't tell me i'm a bad person I just want advice

ThankYou

Answer 1

You only need to ask once.

It doesn't matter if you were sleeping in the car or driving the car it's still a DUI, I was in court and some guy had received a DUI while sleeping in his car and after he was found guilty, he told the judge "well since it don't matter if I was driving or not I guess I'll just drive from now on, because the punishment the same."

If the lawyer can guarantee to clean it up, and won't get paid unless he does, I'd go for it. Most likely he'll have you go into rehab of some type, and yes you can get a cheaper lawyer who could do the same thing, look for one that specializes in DUI's.

The prosecutor won't offer a plea bargain, it's open and shut as far as he's concerned.

Answer 2

Definitely shop around for other lawyers and see who offers you the best deal.  Search public records to see what's happened with these lawyers in previous cases (if you have to get special access to legal databases, you might be able to do it through your local library).  Though you might not need one, these things do typically go better if you've got a lawyer on your side.  

Were your keys in the ignition?  Where was the car parked?  How drunk were you?  Did you resist at all?

If your record's clear and (unfortunately) if you're also white, you might get out of this with some community service and a fine.  Make sure that you show up in court looking good (come to court with your parents if possible) and make sure you get to tell your side of things and to apologize.  Really, a lot of it is up to the whim of the judge.

  

Answer 3

Ok dear, even if you were sleeping in your car, you are still under the age, and were drinking, so you deserve the punishment. I would get a cheaper lawyer, HOPE it gets cleared, and if not, then just deal with the consequences.

Answer 4

You need a lawyer.  No one here could tell you if a cheaper lawyer can do the same thing and vice versa.  You run a huge risk of losing your license for longer than 90 days, considering you are only 18 and legal drinking age is 21.  It's called Zero Tolerance, and you can actually lose your license until you are 21.  Not to mention, as an adult, your arrest and conviction will forever be on your record and can affect a myriad of things in your life.  Either way, your lawyer won't be able to get this completely dropped.  You'll have something on your record even if it is pled down and you will have huge fines and probation at the least.

EDIT: to rebut a previous answer, you can be charged with DUI even if you are not driving a car.  Big example is if you fell asleep in the car and the engine was on or even if the keys were in the ignition, the assumption of a normal person is that you were driving and that is enough for a DUI.  It can vary from jurisdiction.

Answer 5

First off if you was not driving unless the cop actually seen you driving they the most they can get you on is public intoxiction.  However you are only 18 and the law says 21 is legal drinking age.  Who gave you the alcohol???  Keep in mind that might come into the picture.  They would rather have the idiot that bought you the alcohol then to have you.  That may be your plea bargain.  Is this someone you want to get into trouble.  

I am no lawyer so I don't know this is just a guess the system works in funny ways sometimes....

Answer 6

No actual experience, but my understanding is that you almost never "get off," unless there is some technicality that your lawyer can find.  You are going to spend 5000 no matter what on court costs and lawyers and fines, but if you have a lawyer that can possibly clear it, I would go for it, because you are screwed for a long time after a DUI.  

Answer 7

The best thing you can do is get a lawyer.  My son had that problem---he also had stopped the car and slept but was charged nevertheless.  The lawyer cleaned it up to the point where all my son had was a couple of points on his driving record and a fine.  No DUI charge on his record....so, the best you can do is hire a good attorney.  However, this will help you one time--if you repeadetly get DUI's then a lawyer won't be able to help you all the time......

Answer 8

DUI=DRIVING under influence.    If you weren't driving at the time, this is not a legal DUI.  

Answer 9

Pay for the attorney . . . he'll get the charges knocked down . . . you'll have something on your record  . . . but it will be more like reckless driving . . . or some other type of misdemeanour  . . . I had a girlfriend who was issued a DUI for waiting for a taxi inside of car . . . you may even get a lessor charge in turn for "community service" or "probation" . . . a good attorney is worth every penny.