Weighing the Options
Tuesday, October 6th, 2009
Last night, I fell asleep pondering the option of hiring the attorney I spoke with earlier that day. He was wonderful, and since he specializes in DUI cases, he knew his business. After questioning me about my weight, how much I had to drink that night, when I started drinking and when i stopped, he was able to mathematically estimate my BAC at the time of the blood draw. His estimate was .09, very close to the .1 I blew in the breathalyzer test.
I was amazed with his voodoo magic (otherwise known as, “science”) and am seriously considering hiring him to try to get my case dismissed. Since nobody in my car, myself included, recalls me “crossing over the yellow line,” there may be a chance that my case could be dismissed if the officer didn’t have a reason to pull me over. I wasn’t speeding, or making any reckless moves. My friends believe the officer watched us leave the parking lot, knowing we probably had drinks at the bar there — a “duck pond” of sorts.
Now, being a Midwest girl raised in a small town, I proudly cling to my naive belief that if you speak with honesty from your heart, good will prevail. A stance that would lead me to simply show up for court and speak my case.
That said, I recently *also* have been made painfully aware that I don’t know diddly about the legal system.
I was actually intending to show up for my hearing and plead guilty. Afterall, if the blood work says I was over the legal limit, I must have been over the limit. However, upon sharing my intent to skip into court and admit guilt, I was laughed at by my “street smart” peers who informed me that even a judge would balk at such a plea.
Who knew? Apparently, everyone but me.
Once my blood work comes back, I have to decide whether to take my chances on a $6,500, highly-recommended attorney, or skip into court on a wing and a prayer.
So, what do you all think? Lawyer? No lawyer? Rabbit’s foot? I’m ready to visit a psychic at this point. Feel free to share your wisdom on the next page . . . (Crystal ball optional.) (more…)