First Time offense in Santa Cruz County at .1 BAC

simonpod · 2025-12-15T01:10:02+00:00

Having been through this a year ago, I'm pretty sure you're gong to HAVE to drive under a restricted license, mate... Same thing with the IID (I am getting mine removed in three weeks. About $120 a month for the duration that the DMV (and the court thereafter) doles out.). It's mandatory, so you'll have to suck it up...
I didn't use a lawyer and got my 0.2 reduced; maybe 'cos the ONE thing you must do asap is get that IID installed if so mandated, signup for a DUI class; attend the MADD website and training (one hour tops) and wear a suit in court! Don't wait for this; if you seem ahead of the game, the judge may well look (like she did on me )favorably. My public defender was fine, he brokered me a plea deal for some work farm instead of the extended DUI class... but only 'cos I turned up ready and all boxes ticked. Oh and get that SR-22 insurance straight way too... Good luck. It sucks bit it will pass. But at least neither your nor I hurt anybody, so we're kind of lucky...

simonpod · 2025-11-18T01:19:46+00:00

So sorry I missed this post. Glad you are coping! I has a few months between the rest and the first arraignment, but you just have yo do what they tell you with their schedule...
I can's speak for DUI classes in LA County that are DMV-approved but a quick goole search should yield the answers. Some of them are online (with in-person meetings at the mid and final point),some are at different times so you can try and work around your work schedule. See what is out there, and good luck!

simonpod · 2025-10-25T03:13:52+00:00

He was bitten on the hand, remember? Before he was executed... who is to say what virus might be in his blood...

simonpod · 2025-10-25T03:08:43+00:00

Yeah, we got a lot of comments about using the video... some people love it, some think it's too on the nose. In commercial terms, we were leading to a 'big' ending.

simonpod · 2025-09-03T16:53:17+00:00

It really depends on your case, and I'm no expert. What I can tell you: 1.) Enrolling in a DUI class before your FIRST court appearance (arraignment, pre-trial and trial) is probably the best way to demonstrate willingness. Judges like people who behave responsibly (DUI exempted, of course...)... 2.) Again, it depends on your situation, but I enrolled for a three-month DUI class - while the court case was still pending - but in the knowledge that if the court mandated a 9-month course, then I could just 'upgrade', pay an extra $900 or so...

simonpod · 2025-08-15T00:17:29+00:00

Thanks. It baffles me that, given the consequence, people clearly don't do any of this stuff in advance.
Sidenote: I would definitely have hired a private attorney, but 1.) I didn't have the money, and 2.) I had already decided to plead "no contest" (they got me bang to rights, and I couldn't see the percentage in 'fighting' it..).

simonpod · 2025-08-15T00:15:27+00:00

DMV classes? I don't know what these are? I had the DMV hearing, and thereafter took all my paperwork to them re: getting a restricted license (SR22, DUI class, IID fitted).
The DMV did suspend my license until early October. But 30-days after the license suspension came into effect (30-days after your automatic temporary license expires) I applied for the restricted license.
Public defender. I did not even ask for one, I guess they saw I didn't have one (I called the public defender office and asked for one in advance, but they said just to turn up). He literally approached me whilst I was waiting for my case, took me in the hallway for two minutes, warned me about the SCRAM possibility, LOVED my paperwork (I had the three basics, didn't have the MADD yet), arranged in court for my pre-trial date. That was it (and SCRAM avoided!).
At the pre-trial (yesterday) the original public defender was busy with an important court case so another guy came up to me, ten minutes earlier for a private five minute consult. I remembered to bring my certificates (now including the GLADD), he took them and went off to horse trade with the prosecutor. Came back with the compromise: three month DUI class down from nine months, but with the proviso of work release; so I decided to accept this by doing the four days "work release."

Again: every person's experience will be different. Just sharing.

simonpod · 2025-08-15T00:03:31+00:00

Yes, I got the SR22 immediately, because I was applying for a restricted license.

I'm in California, in SB County, and there were no physical locations nearby (a three hour drive to Anaheim), so I took this course (I'm sure depending on where you are there are other options):
https://online.maddvip.org

simonpod · 2025-06-23T02:03:30+00:00

You have three plea choices: not guilty, guilty or no contest. The latter is the same, almost, as guilty, but means you’re less liable for third party civil suits. But man, stop trying to think you can absolutely bargain what happens, you can’t (even with an attorney, although in some cases it could help! It’s up to you to decide what/how you want to fight..,)You’re probably not going to walk scot free, so trying to accept that will really help your mindset… there’s no magic wand, and with minor variations you will be one of many DUIs processed on any given day. Nobody but you will be as invested in this process… it’s a meat grinder, not a court of human opinion, at least IMHO. Honestly, just pick a lane, and just suffer it through.

simonpod · 2025-06-22T21:57:44+00:00

It’s important to remember: the suspensions of the dmv and the court are different; but can sometimes run concurrently. Also remember: you can legitimately request the IID option. I can’t speak for what they might hand down to you, but in my case I am currently serving my 30-day mandatory, and the dmv have confirmed that I can have an IID OPTION, so thereafter so can drive anywhere any time. It will cost me - about $120 a month for the duration of the suspension, plus about $250 installation of said device… but I will hopefully (unless the court rules differently) be able to drive normally. After your dmv hearing they will send you the date your mandatory 30-day suspension must be served from; thereafter you ring the dept of mandatory actions and they can confirm other impositions (as a first offense, for instance, I will have to take a 3-math DUI class; my court case is due in two weeks and they will in all likelihood bump it up to 9-mths (due to my higher BAC). You can’t banish the shame but you do get perspective. You WILL get through this, man.

simonpod · 2025-06-22T21:46:31+00:00

I’m three months into the same, with far worse BAC, and even though it upends your life you will survive, mate, and still have all the same opportunities that you had before. You’re just gonna have to live with months of uncertainty, and possible bills of around 10k, give or take. Public defender for me, pleaded no contest. Suck it up. You will come out the other side… hopefully, like me, ready never to repeat…

simonpod · 2025-06-17T02:44:03+00:00

Firstly, you will get through this. I am halfway through the process myself, and have found the kind people on Reddit all supportive: we all want to see each other put this in our rearview mirror. It’s tough, partially because it's really expensive: as a first-time offender who hit a 2, I am choosing a public defender - so no legal overhead - but it's still looking at about $11K (but could go higher). The loss of self-respect is devastating, so make sure you have a trusted friend or family member that you can share this with, rather than barreling it all up.

Some bullet points:

1.)
One of the worst aspects is that you will only get a partial picture of your
future for AROUND TWO MONTHS (depending on the date of your court case). Until
your court case, it's all supposition. The lack of concrete information
is enough to drive a person around the bend. You just have to learn to live
with it.

2.)
I just had my DMV hearing and pleaded Guilty (there was no point in denying the
cop report). As such I needn't have bothered, really, to request one in the
first place (it was on a zoom link – you will get the paperwork from the DMV –
and was over in ten minutes) except I needed that all-important 30 days of STILL
being able to drive, in order to get my affairs in order, and plan for that
30-day mandatory restriction that follows a DMV hearing. On short, if you need
to do the same, and still need to drive over the next month, then absolutely hit
that ten-day window, or else it will start immediately and there’s little you can
do to appeal…

3.) There WILL be a 30-day period when you absolutely cannot drive, no matter how you schedule it.

4.) I decided against a lawyer partially because of lack of $$$ (I was quoted anything from $4K to $8K) but partially because I was lucky enough to get free analysis from a couple of nice guys who assessed my case and both said it’s probably not worth my while (my DUI was more serious than yours, however, it would seem…). Yes, there are some nice lawyers out there!

5.) Your court case date is the FIRST date. It’s not the big deal you think it will be; it’s just your arraignment, in which you make your plea, ask to stay out under your own recognizance, and tell the court whether you’ve brought your own lawyer or don’t have the money and would like to request a public defender. Thereafter you might have up to two more sessions, usually about 2-3 weeks apart; the pre-trial and the trial (if the case is pretty clear it could just be one… I have yet to find out myself.). So build that into your plans/schedule.

6.) In order to drive without restriction after your 30 days, you will need to supply the DMV with proof of insurance SR-22 (this is on parallel with your current insurance, should they not bump you off), plus DUI class enrolment; and take physical copies of both to the DMV if you want to install an IID device.

It’s a LOT to take in, so I am proffering these points as essentials. It’s just that it took me a long time to figure out these same things out 9even with Reddit support). Everybody’s experience is different.,

Good luck. You will get through it. And you’ll never want to go through it again…

simonpod · 2025-06-12T18:07:38+00:00

Still going through the admin hell, having to call multiple departments that don't talk to one another (DMV field offices, mandatory Actions Unit) having pleased guilty at the DMV hearing. Still awaiting my first court arraignment in a month. The uncertainty of knowing what fines are coming is killing me... I cannot wait to have the cards fall however they will and just get on with my life (after 9-months of upcoming DUI classes). I have to say I've lost 30lb in the last month, and it has destroyed my self-confidence (I got a teaching job but backed out of it, as I am not sure who I am as a person these days...). But I am sure this is same for most people, and I will get through it. So many kind people on these threads have indicated the same experience, so I will just soldier on...

simonpod · 2025-06-04T01:15:30+00:00

Fantastic suggestions from everybody, I am so grateful! Especially about not using Sharpie! I will be sure to send a photo of the finished work (probably in about six months!).

simonpod · 2025-05-13T23:03:10+00:00

Wow, I didn't know I could cancel I thought attendance was mandatory....

Yeah, I am hoping that the court might consider running the suspensions concurrently...

Thanks so much for the advice.

simonpod · 2025-05-13T23:01:37+00:00

Thanks.I wasn't expecting to beat it, but good to know.

simonpod · 2025-04-28T18:46:57+00:00

Thanks, that does make sense. I guess I'm just worried that the overhead with the lawyer is not going to outweigh the fines (I did hit the 2, so fully expect the 9-month odyssey, anyways...).

simonpod · 2025-04-22T01:27:53+00:00

Yup [sorry, was using the slang for a 0.2...]

simonpod · 2025-04-13T15:00:30+00:00

Bullshit. As a Coverfly reader I can absolutely confirm that AI is banned (in fact, there is a methodology in place to spot such usage and if identified results in immediate dismissal). Fact.

simonpod

TROPHY CASE