Pa Dui Jail Time
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i got a dui pulled over for smoking weed?
the other day i was pulled over for going through a yellow light tht turned red before i got through. cops smelled weed on my breath blah blah blah i said i had nothing in my car and after a while i admited i did they finally searched it and found my pipe scale and grinder and less than a half a gram of weed. i live in pa and am 19 years old what am i looking at how screwed am i? costs jail time liscence suspension community service? should i get a lawyer? i am not sure of all the charges yet only know that i have a dui
I am not familiar with the laws in PA but I am quite familiar with the laws in WA. I strongly recommend getting an attorney that specializes in DUI and drug possession. If you have nothing else on your record I believe it is very likely that you may be eligible for what is called a deferred prosecution. In the state of WA this means that you keep your license, agree to a period of probation and go through out patient treatment as well as support groups. The upside of this is that if you complete the program successfully you will not have a DUI on your record and the penalties will be far far less than what you would face otherwise. Another benefit is that you will learn something about yourself whether or not you have a substance abuse problem.
Whether or not you have a problem is really only a conclusion that you can come to, but at least in WA deferred prosecution is only available if a substance abuse counselor determines that you have a problem.
Some of the drawbacks...you may need to have an interlock device in your vehicle for a year, you will spend money and time going through treatment and meetings and while you can use while you are in the program it's a bad idea. If you get caught through a UA or driving you will be in very big trouble.
If deferred prosecution is an option and you are willing to go through the steps and embrace the work I recommend it. It is hard. It is not always comfortable but if you view it as an opportunity to learn about yourself and create a better life you can get a lot out of it. If you enter the program to avoid the more severe penalties you may have a kind of resentment toward treatment and the program which makes it very difficult and adds to the pain of the whole thing.
I also would like to add that first time offenders in WA often get off much lighter than what I describe above. Sometimes this includes attending a victims impact panel, attending a substance abuse class and staying out of trouble (inactive probation). In any case it is worth every penny to get a good attorney. If you choose to seek council shop around. Some are good others are not. A good place to read reviews about attorneys is http://www.avvo.com. The first meeting with the attorney is an interview and should not cost you anything. Ask about their experience, success with people in your situation and your options. Visit more than one attorney and don't let them scare you into retaining them immediately.
It is important to get an attorney as soon as possible. There are loopholes and time lines that slowly close your options if you don't take action.
In the end you are not screwed. You will get through this - many, many people do. Please do not drive after consuming any alcohol or drugs. Even if you are fine to drive the risks at this point are not worth it.
I wish you all the best - take a deep breathe, relax and find an attorney. You will be just fine.

