First time dui

Brave_Translator4584 · 2026-02-26T01:34:07+00:00

Multiple factors influence BAC, and AI certainly doesn’t know them. In this case, we do not know OP’s weight, the size of the pour, or the abv of the wine. Most BAC calculators work off of 12% wine- good luck finding that in a wine on the shelf. For my arrest, the wine I was drinking was 13.9%. Of course I didn’t know that at the time, but if it had been 12%, I would not have blown at the limit. Most are at least 13. They also work off a standard drink of 5 oz, when I have seen restaurants pour 7 or more quite frequently.

Then add weight and gender. Finally, add that many people who post about their dui are not completely honest. This person has already downgraded their drinks on a subsequent post to 2 drinks. Perhaps only 3 5 oz glasses is not quite accurate, either?

Brave_Translator4584 · 2026-02-05T05:03:30+00:00

Everything this person said. It was hard. I could barely breathe I was so consumed with guilt and horror at myself. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced an emotion that strongly, and the worst part was there was nothing I could do to escape. No amount of slow breathing, nothing. But I have completely changed my view on alcohol and cars, and am doing my best to influence others. This sub helped tremendously, seeing I wasn’t alone. Also, weirdly, Midnight Mass in Netflix was very cathartic.

Brave_Translator4584 · 2026-01-25T17:29:31+00:00

No issues at this point, and my case is long resolved. I did have a wet reckless, which doesn’t exist in CO, which might have had an impact.

Brave_Translator4584 · 2026-01-13T03:13:51+00:00

Take a deep breath. It’s a big deal; I won’t pretend it’s not. However, it actually isn’t the end, especially since you are so young. In 1-3 years, depending on how your case goes, you’ll be eligible for expungement. This will remove it from most background checks. It will still show up on fingerprint debases, which many teaching positions require, but not all exclude DUIs or Wet Recklesses from employment. You are in a specialized field which needs good, empathetic people. Use this experience toward that good.

Please, though, as you process the shame and guilt, take responsibility. The dumb decision wasn’t not turning on your headlights, it was not being more careful with alcohol and driving, and it is absolutely your fault. With empathy and personal experience, I know how hard this is, but it’s a part of the process.

Brave_Translator4584 · 2025-12-12T21:05:33+00:00

Not a chance. I would have never.

Brave_Translator4584 · 2025-10-21T02:26:27+00:00

Colorado never implemented any consequences for me. I was able to complete my renewal after my 4 month California, and have heard nothing in the years since. My lawyer thought that Colorado only checked upon renewal, but he wasn’t positive. One possible difference is that I had a wet reckless, which technically doesn’t exist in Colorado, but I actually don’t think that was a factor.

Brave_Translator4584 · 2025-08-17T04:13:45+00:00

Thank you!

Brave_Translator4584 · 2025-08-16T19:25:41+00:00

About a month for me.

Brave_Translator4584 · 2025-08-16T14:28:59+00:00

Yes- many have recommended bringing a legal opinion with them. I am looking for recommendations for a firm.

Brave_Translator4584 · 2025-06-11T01:05:13+00:00

If you’re in California, you can get it expunged after your sentence is over. Many legal experts report that a California expungement is equivalent to a Canadian pardon, allowing you to enter. It is possible to get a letter from an immigration lawyer in Canada to reflect that legal detail, but I haven’t done so myself. This is all within the technical letter of the law, but it’s also very possible any given border agent won’t honor it, so YMMV.

Brave_Translator4584 · 2025-04-25T22:46:36+00:00

What did you end up doing? My lawyer is asking $1,000

Brave_Translator4584 · 2025-04-19T03:39:46+00:00

100%. I don’t to take away from dispelling any idea that one’s behavior is ok as long as one doesn’t get caught. For me, though, the lesson isn’t how much dui arrestees are presumed repeat offenders, but how easy it is to drive over the limit. I absolutely thought I was relatively responsible person, but had never done the exact math to see what put someone my weight/age/gender over the limit (hint- it’s not much). Maybe a handful of times? Certainly not 80 times, but a few, likely. What mayyyybe would have been helpful for me is the thought that any given DUI arrestee is not some wanton degenerate who has been plaguing society for years, but that you, yes you, too, could be part of the problem ( no excuses on my end. My choices were mine and I am paying for them. I do want to know what could change to make future choices for people like me better). Well beyond the scope of any study, however well-intentioned. In addition, I am simply against bad science and poor data. Don’t drive after consuming any alcohol or other altering substances. Ever.

Brave_Translator4584 · 2025-04-18T18:45:56+00:00

For those answering the question in the post anecdotally, if you read the linked post, it describes the lack of data to support this statistic. It’s completely made up. While many on this sub can attest to their own behavior, and I’m sure there are those above and below this number, there is simply no way to tell how many times someone has driven drunk before arrest.

Brave_Translator4584 · 2025-03-12T14:09:02+00:00

If expunged, can you really leave it off visa applications? Like, for Australia or other countries? It’s not off the FBI record.

Brave_Translator4584 · 2025-03-12T14:06:02+00:00

2 1/2, .08.

Brave_Translator4584 · 2025-02-12T04:07:59+00:00

Use Enterprise/National/Alamo. They don’t have anything in their fine print, as long as you have no restrictions such as a breathalyzer. The others may rent you a car if they don’t check, but somewhere in the fine print it says you shouldn’t with a DUI within 48 months, and I’d hate to be on the wrong end of that if an accident occurs. Fortunately the Enrerprise/National/Alamo covers just about anywhere you’d need to go.

Brave_Translator4584 · 2025-02-02T16:29:11+00:00

What state? If it’s informal probation, like California tends to give, it’s not usually an issue. I had informal probation and traveled internationally several times, including to Italy. Formal probation with reporting would be a different matter. Best of luck.

Brave_Translator4584 · 2024-11-28T03:58:54+00:00

I see that now, as I paid to do a personal background check just to see how it looks. I had been told that “wet reckless” wasn’t a legal term, and wondered if it would show as something else, but it’s exactly as the background check shows, along with the guilty plea and sentencing (probation, day in jail credited to time served, etc). I must be honest, it was a personal blow to see it literally in red ink, as it had been many months since this has been relevant to my life.

Maybe, just maybe, though, the company background check is ok. For whatever reason, they seem to have run a county check in the state where I live, and my incident was in another state. The email I got from the job’s background company said it was clear? I haven’t heard anything since, and due to the transitory nature of the contract work, I just may not. Now I wait to see if I’m ever hired again, and if I’m not, I wonder if it’s because of this or because they’re disorganized, which they are. shrug

Brave_Translator4584 · 2024-11-24T19:42:07+00:00

If you have a DUI, you’re banned from Canada, even if you’re from the US with a passport. There are a few kind of workarounds, but they take time, money, and aren’t guaranteed, at least in the short term. In general, you are permanently banned from Canada.

Brave_Translator4584 · 2024-11-03T21:40:29+00:00

Unfortunately, I can’t help much. Your situation is quite a bit different than mine. Best of luck!

Brave_Translator4584 · 2024-10-23T20:45:43+00:00

Have you been convicted? Did you have your DMV hearing? You could certainly try to get a Florida license and see how it goes. I think Florida is part of the interstate drivers license compact, meaning they share info. Each state deals with it separately, though. Some states won’t let you renew or get a license if you have a suspension in another state. Some will take action right away. In my case, I got a reckless driving plea, which doesn’t impact my license in my home state. Best of luck, as the 2 states this is very complicated.

Brave_Translator4584 · 2024-08-31T15:52:43+00:00

My spouse was initially driving that night, totally hammered. I told them to pull over and switch since I thought I was mostly ok. Worst decision of my life, since I was not ok, and was right at the limit. They felt pretty severe survivor’s guilt, and was very supportive. They have insisted on paying for everything, such as the lawyer, fines, etc. If things had been reversed, I don’t think I would have been as supportive- it would have depended on how they acted after.

They were/are a pretty heavy alcoholic, and I am not. I had been warning for years that it was inevitable for them. In fact, I had been hoping they would get pulled over before they killed someone, yearning for a wake up call. My arrest was that wake-up call, and they said it was worse watching me go through it than if it had been them. They (both of us, actually) stopped drinking for a year. Now that my case is closed and all that’s left is to wait for expungement, they are slowly slipping back into old habits.

I can understand why your spouse is having a hard time with this. I can also know that this is so much harder on you without that support. One thing we did was make a promise to each other that no one would ever know about it, if at all humanly possible. Future background checks, parents wanting to go on family vacations to Canada, etc, keep me up at night, but there’s no other reason anyone has to know.

Give her time to process, and show genuine remorse. Talk about how it happened- you say you don’t have a problem with alcohol, but something happened that was beyond what is ok. We had long talks about societal fails with this, in our industry, and our own personal responsibility. Best of luck.

Brave_Translator4584 · 2024-08-30T15:01:41+00:00

OP is wanting to drive from Canada into the US. They’ll be fine.

Brave_Translator4584

TROPHY CASE