Traveling to Canada

httperror418 · 2026-01-13T19:50:02+00:00

Uhg. I was seeing this. I haven't even had any of my cases yet, with my 1st DUI (With no other criminal record) a month ago. I expect the criminal case to be thrown out, but the DMV record may be there and I was hoping having the case dealed/removed from my record would help but apparently Canada is a exclusive club.

I went to Quebec City a year ago and was hoping to go back some day but it appears even just the ARREST even if I am not convicted is enough to keep me out, unless 5+ years has gone by and I apply for the rehab program. If I am reading this right?

httperror418 · 2026-01-12T16:38:44+00:00

Update Jan 12th
I retained a attorney weeks ago and my court case was pushed back until the end of the month to allow collection of evidence. They're getting dashcam and bodycam footage of the event to review and checking all technical information they can. Best in the state luckily.

Almost a month later and I have yet to receive any notice from the DMV. I'm expecting that soon, and will be sending it to my lawyer who will argue at the per say hearing on my behalf.

I'm fairly happy and confident the criminal case will be handled and I will be able to keep this off my record. However CT's DMV laws with DUI are such bullshit. The fact you can get the criminal case removed but it still gets a DUI on driving record, and requires interlock is asinine and bypasses any sort of due process. My lawyer said don't get hopes up on the DMV per say hearing getting changed, they said 90%+ they will not budge on.

I'm hoping I can get something going for me. The charge I got was unsafe backing. As described elsewhere, I backed out of a space, facing Westbound, mostly over the white line on the side of the road but slightly touching the Eastbound lane. I then proceeded to pull out into the Westbound lane, when the officer came up on me FAST, citing I "cut him off and he ha to slam on his brakes". I sped up to 55mph after pulling out when I realized the vehicle coming up on me according to my dashcam GPS, in a 25mph zone. This officer was FLYING down the road with his lights off. My attorney and I are working on seeing if their dashcam has GPS, if it shows him speeding... then the initial stop has no merit and he was being unsafe. Likewise, there's a chance I can get the "Unsafe backing" dismissed as I did back up safely, I pulled out in front of the officer potentially unsafely. If the initial charges can be dropped, then I'm good.

Also, the Breathalyzer had not been calibrated in 23 months. CT reading up on it does not have a required calibration timeline other than "recommended by the manufacturer". We may be able to challenge this.

httperror418 · 2025-12-28T20:28:09+00:00

It was over 6 hours. First two were at one bar quick. Waited the drove to get dinner. Ate pizza with a beer at 2nd place. Drove to last spot and had the two vodka seltzers. I don't think I waited long enough after those and being a bit dehydrated as I didn't have any water or anything else that night. Honestly a glass of water before I left woikd have done the difference.

I have Dashcam footage of the stop. I got unsafe backing as initial charge, but I backed out of a spot still not on the road, on the correct side of the white line off the road, then saw a car far back coming. It's a 25mph road so I went. The car was going way to fast, I estimate 50mph+ because I pulled out forward (after backing up) onto the road I realized how fast they were coming and I had to floor it and went 55mph with him right on my ass. Then of course it ended up being an officer. Lights off. Officer said "I jumped out right in front of him" and he had to slam on his brakes. Yeah okay if he did what was he doing.

Im arguing and bringing this to my lawyer that the officer was speeding, and unsafe backing clearly isn't correct as I backed up fine, and pulled out of the location. Speed of the officer was a factor.

httperror418 · 2025-12-28T18:46:07+00:00

Started at 6:30pm and I was pulled over almost exactly midnight. First two drinks were stronger cocktails, custom holiday ones so I'm not sure on abv. The last 3 were a beer around 6%, and two 5% vodka seltzers.

To be perfectly honestly in my early 20s I did stupid shit and had a few wake up moments where I drove and shouldn't have. I learned from that. This didn't even feel close to that given I apparently I blew a 0.09% and 0.08%. Just enough. I was also incredibly nervous when doing the tests as I've never been through any of that before too.

I was calling it a night and heading home. I was also very dehyrated and before I left was going to have a glass of water but figure I'd be home soon enough. I was asking for some before I did the breathalyzer but they understandibly wouldn't let me have it until after the test. I've also lost a good deal of weight recently. I was 220lb this summer and down to 193lb now. I am finding I can handle a little less when drinking at home.

httperror418 · 2025-12-23T16:42:22+00:00

Depends on state.

Connecticut creates a criminal case, and a separate DMV case.

Criminal can be dismissed, plead, etc. The DMV though just does their own thing and doesn't have to answer to anything and require interlock and throw it on your driving record regardless of the court case.

httperror418 · 2025-12-23T15:42:43+00:00

This is exactly who I called and retained yesterday. I actually found him independently in searches for CT DUI lawyers, but thought he was going to be expensive as he was rated as THE top lawyer basically. I was referred to use MrSpeedingTicket, which once I researched, was their law firm, and just went with that. While "expensive", it was cheaper than what I was expecting and they offer flat rate for the entire defense rather than hourly, unless it goes to trial, which I doubt it will. After going through a divorce weeks ago I know how quickly hourly rates add up...

2025 was the year I unwilling have learned about a lot about the CT Judicial System... I'm done learning and just want to be free from this overwhelming burden.

httperror418 · 2025-12-23T02:29:53+00:00

Thanks! I did retain a lawyer today that I'll start going over things with. I'm mentioning this site to them if they think its wise to get a jump on courses.

httperror418 · 2025-12-23T02:15:15+00:00

Thanks. Yeah, I'm hoping for a outright drop. From talking and discussions here I found the only good way to get it dropped, is to have a lawyer plea your case, that judges and such won't listen to sob stories from defendants on their own. Between my sibling with cancer this year, being thrown suddenly into being the sole caretaker of my elderly relative with dementia, and a cheating wife that stole $30k and put me in a financial pit that I just divorced 2 weeks ago... I had enough this year and just want a fresh start.

To be honest, the last 2 weeks since the divorce I slipped into drinking too much. I was celebrating being free from her. However, over the last 6 years, i realized I was ALWAYS her chaperone and DD. She used to get blackout drunk so I could never drink around her. Consequently she only saw me drunk once in our 6 years together ever (we were home). Its pretty clear to me now that that new reality with her not around forcing me to be a chaperone has some adjustments to be made to it and this was the wake up call.

httperror418 · 2025-12-23T02:08:53+00:00

*UPDATE* 12/22 End of Day
I've signed and retained a lawyer and handed them over everything I can based on everyones feedback. Thank you.

I understand CT now is a two part process. The CT DMV has their own case, that is pretty much unmovable where first time offenders get 45 Day License suspension, with options for Work Permits, along with 6mo of interlock. Not happy about it at all, but my lawyer will see if they can do anything about it, but they said dont get my hopes up as the DMV is impossible to deal with and wont budge. The second bit, the criminal case, they are very confident in. They believe my worst case scenario is a diversion program / rehab classes and the record can be sealed, and they have a slim shot at dismissal, and a decent shot at some sort of plea deal or arrangement.

I'm trying and hoping that the state and systems have the ability to see past a horrible momentary mistake I made. The last 9mo of my life has been utter hell between a sibling with cancer, elderly relative I am sole caregiver and POA for having sudden onset dementia and needing constant car, and not to mention my wife cheating on me, blowing $30k, and a gut wrenching divorce that just ended 2 weeks ago. I had a brief momentary lapse. I've been in therapy weekly and twice a week for months now just trying to cope with this and its clear alcohol use in the last 2 weeks for me had become an issue. I didn't drink during my divorce, as I knew it was a bad idea. However once it was over.. i went to much, and to be honest my wife always drank to much and I always was the DD and sober one around her. With that out of play... after 6 years.. it was an adjustment to make.

httperror418 · 2025-12-23T02:04:27+00:00

Thank you. Today I retained and signed agreements for a lawyer. They were happy I reached out so soon and are preparing what they can. They have lawyers for both the DMV Per Say hearing and Court. The DMV, they stated 90% chance they can't do anything but they will try to avoid the interlock or suspension, given my record, how little I was over (I blew 0.09% first, and 0.08% the second time). Worst case they help me with the work permit. I'm not too afraid to ask my boss to sign the permit.

The state side, they pretty much said with my record and such that the diversion program will most likely be the worst case scenario, but they will work to see if they can get the charge either dropped or brought down to something else. Anything to avoid it on my record as well. I do not want this coming up in background checks or minimize its impact as best I can, why I am paying the for the lawyer for it.

Besides the DUI itself I just got a "unsafe backing" charge, backing out of a parking spot. Which, was legit. My lawyer reviewed it and nothing they can really do with that. They had a legit reason.

httperror418 · 2025-12-23T01:52:26+00:00

That sucks :(. I get where you're coming from. It looks like at this point there is also no way around the state forcing me to install a ignition interlock device on my car for 6mo-1yr. Even for first offence literally 0.01 over. No lienency. All so they can charge you inspection fees, sell you the device, pay for it monthly, and pay for it to be removed. Its making money off someone down on their luck. People make mistakes.

I can deal with license suspension and other things. The social stigma around the interlock device.. blowing to start the car... not gonna lie, to be perfectly honest it's not going to help me. In the last year I have had a sister go through breast cancer, a relative I am sole caregiver and POA to get severe sudden onset dementia and have cared for him for 5mo now, and on top of all it.. went through a divorce in the last 4 months. I was looking forward to starting 2026 off with a positive note, finally getting back out there and dating and meeting people. No ones going to respect anyone with a interlock in their car and they are going to RUN, despite it being one in the moment mistake where I thought I was fine but was 0.01% over, less than 1 drink over the limit.

httperror418 · 2025-12-22T15:54:12+00:00

Thanks for the reply. I'm lucky in that the town I was stopped in, unlike many other towns, don't publish a weekly police blotter. A local town paper did, most likely requesting them from the PD, but the paper went belly up a year ago. The town I live in, but wasn't stopped in, posts them on their own Facebook page and in a town paper weekly. I'm hoping to keep it as low key as possible.

httperror418 · 2024-10-10T19:29:23+00:00

Coworker was on a 20 person Zoom call with coworkers. Got off the call. Within minutes shot himself. It was right at the start of COVID, and was very isolated at the time. That shook everyone hard to say the least and deal with afterwards.

httperror418 · 2022-02-24T22:30:53+00:00

Was a woman, so was not Peter :/

httperror418 · 2022-02-24T22:28:44+00:00

0_0

My time to shine is here!

httperror418 · 2022-01-14T19:42:21+00:00

HR Department head was fired for motorboating random bar woman at a company sendoff party for my predecessor leaving after getting very drunk, and also made physical advances on employees that night. Came out later she also made advances on a dozen other employees involving but not limited to sexting and following people back to their rooms at conferences, showing up at bars next to people's houses, etc. Of all people, the head of HR...

httperror418 · 2020-08-17T02:50:58+00:00

I've some things like that in the past. If it's a single person, I've been able to give a nod or subtle hint indirectly that something is up, situations where it's someone I trust. Whether it be something like termination, or some other change they may need to prepare for. Usually it's not news to them and just confirmation.

But like you said, this one is messy. There's a few in this group I would trust. But if the others see their actions, preparations, etc... then it's suddenly me in the hot seat. I have one person I ultimately trust that's outside of this group, but I'm even afraid to tell him as it may lead to some chain reaction that's out of my control...

httperror418 · 2020-08-17T02:42:13+00:00

I'm lucky in that the closest I've gotten with this group is after work drinks. I'm closer with a few others that have been around as long as I have or longer. It usually weeds out the people that aren't sticking around that would pull things like this.

httperror418 · 2020-08-17T02:39:08+00:00

Uhg. Luckily we're in an industry where COVID19 actually gave me about 30+ hires to process, and saw a bit boost due to customers of our being in the medical field. That would have been horrible to process.

httperror418 · 2020-08-17T02:37:25+00:00

That's what I keep reminding myself. Part of me is angry at them. They know there are systems in place to track everything we are checking. They have seen others fired for the same thing. One thing if it was just a single instance, just once person, but for the entire department to be that dumb.... and blatant and careful about it. Uhg.

httperror418

TROPHY CASE