I really screwed up this time. [Archive] - Front Office Football Central

View Full Version : I really screwed up this time.

MizzouRah

08-30-2004, 01:39 AM

Three months ago I was pulled over for a DWI. I hired a lawyer and the sentence was reduced to an administrative suspension with no points on my license.

I had to serve a manditory 30 day driver's license suspension. The 30 days are over and now I have a 60 day restricted driver's license, which basically means I can drive for work related transportation. I have a valid license, but it's a paper license and I won't get my picture ID back until I attend alcohol classes, which I'm signed up for at the end of September.

Fast foward to this trip, and yes I'm an idiot for not checking about rental car restrictions, I have no idea why my brain didn't say, "Todd, you might want to call Budget and see what their policies are concerning your restricted license." Although I did figure since I have full coverage insurance along with an SR-22, I would be ok.

I'm here in New Mexico and Budget says, "Sorry, we can't help you." I'm screwed, my boss is going to either fire me or write me up... for the simple fact I just cost him $1000+ to come out here and work for someone, but I have no transportation. I'm a technician for HP and I need transportation. Why in the hell didn't I think? I'm almost 33 years old and I didn't think to call Budget. None of the chain rental car places will let me rent a car.. DUH!

My only hope is to call some non-corporate places tomorrow in hopes I can rent something to drive. I want to ask the guy out here if he would rent one for me and I would pay him, but he doesn't even know me and could get in big trouble - even though my insurace company covers me to drive anything.

Oh boy... I have no idea what to do besides calling a few local places. I took a cab to the hotel and I'm beat. Any ideas?

I'm an idiot.... :(

Todd

MrBug708

08-30-2004, 01:40 AM

Dial-a-Ride? Taxi?

vex

08-30-2004, 01:41 AM

You can't just stick with a cab?

Eaglesfan27

08-30-2004, 01:43 AM

Most cities that I've been in have a rental place that specializes in older beat up cars. I've used "just 4 wheels" before and a few others. They aren't good deals, but they specialize in serving customers that other places might not serve. For example, I used them before I was 25, because a lot of major companies won't rent cars to anyone under 25. Good luck with this situation.

MrBug708

08-30-2004, 01:49 AM

My mom rented a car from a place over here called Rent-a-Wreck. It was a Ford Fiesta, but it got her through a few days at like 15 dollars a day.

MizzouRah

08-30-2004, 01:56 AM

Thanks for the replies. There is a rent-a-wreck close by as well as an ABC rental car. Hopefully with an American Express card (or cash), picture work ID, proof of insurance, and my paper license, something magical will happen tomorrow.

Taxi's would be ok for close by calls, but some can go as far as 200 miles. The one guy here covers all of New Mexico. In fact, he's going on one call that's like 200 miles tomorrow.

Todd

Eaglesfan27

08-30-2004, 02:06 AM

I've gotten a car from rent-a-wreck with less. If you have a decent credit rating (I'm almost certain they check that) and a valid license (paper will likely be fine) you should have no problems with the rent-a-wreck. Hopefully, it works out well for you tomorrow.

MikeVic

08-30-2004, 02:27 AM

Good luck.

yabanci

08-30-2004, 03:46 AM

Hire a towncar. If you're going to fuck up, fuck up with style.

Poli

08-30-2004, 05:07 AM

Good luck, bud.

Alf

08-30-2004, 05:56 AM

I was in the US when I was 22 and most of the big companies didn't want to even talk to us but we found "Jose" who was nice and rented us a car. Ah, good old memories. I will need to get back to my US Trip pictures tonight now...

EDIT : so that's very likely you can find a cheap-crap rentable car

Raiders Army

08-30-2004, 07:51 AM

Good luck. While I feel sorry for your currrent situation, I don't feel sorry for you. In my mind, a person who commits a DWI (not just the ones that get caught) is a selfish human being. You are not only putting your life at risk, but the innocent people driving around you.

While this won't help you in the present, maybe your current situation will help you in the future so you don't get put in this situation again.

Subby

08-30-2004, 07:54 AM

Huckleberry

08-30-2004, 08:43 AM

I'm kind of pissed you're allowed to drive again 30 days later. And at any time 90 days later.

But I hope you don't get fired or anything like that. So good luck keeping your job.

Franklinnoble

08-30-2004, 10:02 AM

Buy a piece of shit used car.

Raiders Army

08-30-2004, 10:39 AM

Hahahahah. You are such an asshole.
How am I an asshole? I wished him good luck and said I feel sorry for his current situation.

sovereignstar

08-30-2004, 10:43 AM

Isn't a DWI driving without insurance?

Raiders Army

08-30-2004, 10:46 AM

I have a valid license, but it's a paper license and I won't get my picture ID back until I attend alcohol classes, which I'm signed up for at the end of September.
Yes, you have to attend alcohol classes when you are pulled over for no insurance :)

sovereignstar

08-30-2004, 10:47 AM

darr...

Glengoyne

08-30-2004, 11:45 AM

sovereignstar

08-30-2004, 12:01 PM

I don't get this at all. Since when is it wrong to have one or two beers and then proceed to drive off?

sovereignstar

08-30-2004, 12:04 PM

Okay. Now this site seems to be saying that DUI and DWI are in fact the same thing.

http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/dmvfaqs.htm#dwi

Franklinnoble

08-30-2004, 12:33 PM

Buy a piece of shit used car.
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=166971403&dealer_id=54758780&car_year=1994&make=FORD&distance=25&max_price=1000&model=&advcd_on=n&end_year=2005&min_price=&address=87102&search_type=used&advanced=n&start_year=1984&color=&cardist=4

$700 bucks... and I didn't even look that hard. You might be able to find something cheaper.

stevew

08-30-2004, 12:34 PM

perhaps you could "buy" a car, and then return it within the 3 day grace period?

Franklinnoble

08-30-2004, 12:41 PM

perhaps you could "buy" a car, and then return it within the 3 day grace period?
I'm pretty sure that there'd be a mileage limit attached to that...

How long are you in NM for?

sterlingice

08-30-2004, 12:43 PM

Driving while Intoxicated.

Which as far as I understand is simply you were pulled over for something/anything, and had a legal BAL(Blood Alcohol Level). It is certainly a serious offense, but is a far cry from DUI. As I understand it you can be written up for DWI if you "blow" a .01 in some states. That is why the sentence for first offenders is typically light.
Point me to the state where .01 is the legal limit? Congress and the President *could* pass a law that says there is a national 8pm curfew and that anyone out on the streets is punished by death but that won't happen. I'm guessing the absolute lowest is .08 or maybe .06 in some freak almost-dry state.

SI

sovereignstar

08-30-2004, 12:56 PM

Glengoyne

08-30-2004, 12:57 PM

Point me to the state where .01 is the legal limit? Congress and the President *could* pass a law that says there is a national 8pm curfew and that anyone out on the streets is punished by death but that won't happen. I'm guessing the absolute lowest is .08 or maybe .06 in some freak almost-dry state.

SI
My understanding is that there are two distinct laws. DUI where the legal limit used to be .1, but has been lowered to .08 in almost all states. There has been a push to take it lower in California, but I don't think it got very far. DWI is, I believe, a separate offense, used when someone is in an accident or pulled over, and they are under the legal limit, and not eligible for a DUI.

That is how I understand the two. It is a difference of degrees.

jamesUMD

08-30-2004, 01:09 PM

A DWI is the more serious offense. Many DWI's are knocked down to DUI's for sentencing purposes which is the lesser of the 2 violations.

Glengoyne

08-30-2004, 01:11 PM

The link to NY state, shows two charges DWI and DWAI. Driving While Intoxicated and Driving While Ability Impaired.

I initially thought that DWI was Driving While Impaired, but lost my confidence, and did a google search that revealed Driving While Intoxicated, so I used that.

I am starting to think that in some states, New York for example, you don't have a charge of DUI, but instead call it a DWI(Driving While Intoxicated). Other states have a DUI, and a lesser offense called DWI(Driving While Impaired). This lesser offense would be comparable to what NY calls charge of DWAI. The range of BAL/BAC qualifying someone for the lesser offense varies from State to State. Regarding the .01, I mentioned earlier. I seem to recall that some states have the limit set that low, because this charge is used on people who have been in an accident or pulled over for moving violations. If you are in an accident where someone is killed and you've had a beer or two, some states want to hit you with a charge that has some teeth. DWI/DWAI is that charge.

jamesUMD

08-30-2004, 01:13 PM

Good luck w/your situation. I worked for Enterprise in a previous life (at least it feels like it was), and any restrictions on your license made it a no go, whether it was "employment purposes only, child support (no joke), or anything else. Your best bets are the small mom and pop car rentals, but I honestly do know how much luck you'll have.

Desnudo

08-30-2004, 01:18 PM

I have a feeling that showing a twenty at one of the mom and pop places might be enough to get it done for you.

Glengoyne

08-30-2004, 01:44 PM

A DWI is the more serious offense. Many DWI's are knocked down to DUI's for sentencing purposes which is the lesser of the 2 violations.
Evidently, this varies from state to state. CA apparently got rid of their DWI law. We apparently just expanded the DUI law to encompass lower BAL values.

stevew

08-30-2004, 01:47 PM

I have a feeling that showing a twenty at one of the mom and pop places might be enough to get it done for you.
yeah, i agree

You didnt tell your boss about the Budget mishap did you?

wbatl1

08-30-2004, 01:57 PM

A DWI is the more serious offense. Many DWI's are knocked down to DUI's for sentencing purposes which is the lesser of the 2 violations.

It is different in almost every state. For example, Georgia does not even have DWI, we only have DUI.

MizzouRah

08-30-2004, 07:41 PM

Well, thanks to all of you, I went to Rent-a-Wreck and I'm now driving a beautiful Hyundai! The guy was totally nice and said he'd help me out, well, as long as I signed a waiver in case of any accidents, but I have insurance for that.

I NEVER told my boss, I wanted to see if I could take care of it first. I feel so relieved, even though my punisment was working until 6:30 tonight and I'm swamped tomorrow, but I'll take it.

Thanks again, having you guys post help and some "wake up" posts helped me today.

Todd

JonInMiddleGA

08-30-2004, 08:34 PM

Point me to the state where .01 is the legal limit? Congress and the President *could* pass a law that says there is a national 8pm curfew and that anyone out on the streets is punished by death but that won't happen. I'm guessing the absolute lowest is .08 or maybe .06 in some freak almost-dry state.

SI
Either I'm confused, or you meant where .001 is the limit.
As has already been mentioned in the thread, most states have switched from the old 0.1% limit to the federally recommended 0.08% limit, plus a de facto 0.02% limit for those underage. And while reading through a variety of stuff, I was reminded that the limit for those driving on a commerical license is lower, 0.04% nationwide (if I understand the material correctly).

http://www.ohsinc.com/drunk_driving_laws_blood_breath%20_alcohol_limits_CHART.htm

Glengoyne

08-30-2004, 09:55 PM

Either I'm confused, or you meant where .001 is the limit.
As has already been mentioned in the thread, most states have switched from the old 0.1% limit to the federally recommended 0.08% limit, plus a de facto 0.02% limit for those underage. And while reading through a variety of stuff, I was reminded that the limit for those driving on a commerical license is lower, 0.04% nationwide (if I understand the material correctly).

http://www.ohsinc.com/drunk_driving_laws_blood_breath%20_alcohol_limits_CHART.htm
I think I am where the .01 came from. I mentioned that I believed that some states have lowered the threshold for the lesser drunk driving offense to .01%. Some states use a higher threshold like .03 and the like, but I am getting the impression the law varies wildly. The lesser offense exists so a driver injures someone in an accident, and has any BAL at all, depending on the threshold, the state has another offense to charge. I think this is why Leodard Little was walking and driving around after the first time he injured someone in an accident after drinking. He wasn't over the higher legal limit, so the lesser charge applied.

In CA, they have actually gotten rid of the DWI offense, and broadened the DUI charge. They impose different penalties based on a variety of factors. So in CA you can be written up for a DUI if you are in an accident(or really get pulled over for any moving violation), and have a BAL of .01%. The logic, as I understand it, is if you weren't impaired, then you wouldn't have had the accident. Also in CA, if you are underage, and driving with a BAL of .01%, you lose your license for a year.

Shepp

08-31-2004, 10:38 AM

Drunk driving laws vary from state to state. In Georgia the legal blood alcohol limit is .08%. However, I can still charge you with DUI, regardless of blood alcohol level, if I can articulate a case that says that you driving in a "less safe" condition.

I would imagine that other states are not radically different whether they call it DUI, DWI, or whatever.