DrugBuyers.Com: Busted for possession...please help I'm scared

Yeppers,

A couple of thoughts: I think anyone who has ever been pulled over for a DUI has had the same thoughts you've had -i.e., "I had no idea i was over the limit, i only had X amount of drinks in an X time period," etc. However, because you've had two DUIs before, it is surprising to me that you would even take the chance of driving with ANY alcohol in your system.

I used to work for a Multiple Offender DUI Program in my city (in California), and typically the rule of thumb around here is that it's easy for just about anyone to get ONE DUI, but since that serves as a wake-up call for most people, only people who have problems with drugs or alcohol chance it again and wind up with more DUIs. I don't know if you have a problem or not; that's for you to decide. But the truth is: anyone who's already had a DUI and gone through the whole court thing, paying fines, going through some kind of DUI program, losing their license, etc, will simply not drive under the influence again, UNLESS there's an alcohol problem.

I worked with clients who had anywhere from 3-8 DUIs and they all said the same things: "The cops are following me, cause they know I've had DUIs;" "I have a huge tolerance and couldn't have been drunk, i would have known it;" "The breathalyzer was broken;" etc.etc. They never seemed to understand that if they simply hadn't consumed any alcohol before getting in their vehicles and driving, THERE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ANY PROBLEM! That's the bottom line! If you've had two DUIs before, you KNOW what the risks were. If you chose to drive after drinking again, then you are responsible for what happens to you if you get pulled over. Forget about the excuses, the amounts you consumed, the circumstances - you got a third DUI because you were driving under the influence. I am not trying to flame you here; i just want you to be aware that in court no excuses will work with a third DUI. Night blindness, cell phone, whatever - the judge will not give a Best if kept off the board. A third DUI says to a judge that you are a habitual offender who most likely has a problem with alcohol, regardless of any other details.

I don't know what state you live in, but in the state of California, Multiple DUI Offenders face the loss of their license from 1 year up to three years; at least 30 days jail time; court fines from $14,000 - $20,000; and a court-ordered alcohol/drug counseling/DUI program with a DUI agency for 18 months, which also costs thousands of dollars.

Additionally, in California the Department of Motor Vehicles has the ultimate power in deciding when and whether you get your license back if you've gotten a DUI. They can, and almost always DO, override what a judge says. I saw this happen many times: that a judge would determine that a DUI driver could get their license back, or a provisional license to drive back and forth to work, and the DMV would literally override it. In California the DMV does have the power to do that.

Also, i saw people throwing literally thousands of dollars away on lawyers in DUI cases who promised they could get the clients' licenses back, not realizing that no matter what happened in court or how good the lawyer, the DMV had the last say. In California, frankly, it's useless to retain a lawyer to try to get your license back after a DUI. They can help in court to get the actual charge or the court fines lessened but the DMV will still hold your license until they're ready to let you have it back.

HOWEVER, it is still important to have legal representation in court, as you also have the prescription drug issue to deal with. Signing up for rehab in advance will definitely help, not only with the court, but also, because from what you've said, it sounds like it may be helpful to you. Please, again, don't take this as a flame. It sounds like you need some help. Alcoholism is never about how much you drink - it's about what happens when you drink, and whether or not your drinking produces negative consequences in your life. It sounds like that's what's happening for you.

I wish you only the best, and hope you get the help you need.
Peace.