I have court tomorrow...

[TAC-ELF]

Best policy is respectful and honest.

Clean and well dressed will set a good impression.

Answer all questions, but don't offer explanation unless asked for by the judge. Don't try to be smart and "lawyer-like" -- it will win you no points. Stay away from slang.

Finally, stand up and face what you've done sincerely: It was not the smartest thing in the world (particularly the drinking and driving), and you want to court to know you understand this fact and are facing the consequences of your actions.

Overall, learn something from this. Taken simply, you've gotten lucky already. What if your drinking/driving caused you to hurt or kill someone? In life, you get exactly one screw-up of this magnitude. You might never win the lottery now, but luck was definately on your side already. Don't let that luck go to waste.

Good luck to you, whatever happens.

-- Tac-Elf

[SCpoloRicker]

I probably wouldn't mention the alcohol thing in court.

/real clever, that one
//I tried. honestly, I tried

[Jaan]

Not sir/ma'am. Always "your honor" to the judge.

Especially if it's a woman. One single ma'am and you're a goner. Damn penis envy.

Yeah, I've had some bad experiences with cops. Let's just say there's at least one guy out there, that if I saw him burning alive in car fire, I would watch and laugh with girlish glee. Even though I have a few friends that are cops I can still hate the hypocrisy. Hey, I love the constitution and I hate anyone who disrespects it, and all the people who have died for it ... especially if they're sworn to protect it. I'd have a lot more respect for the law if they had respect for themselves.

Basically all the advice people have given you is right ... kiss butt, they love that. They seem to need that validation to feel human.

[Echo419]

Thank you for everyone imput... I had forgotten to say Your Honor. I will let everyone know tomorrow what goes on

[PyRo]

You're going to have one pissed off cop because you plead innocent even after he let you off the drinking charge. In NY because your're under 21 your license us revoked for 18 months or until 21 whatever is longer, that's ontop of all your fines, and on top of what insurance will do to you once you get your license your state probably has similar laws.

Don't worry about him bringing it up in court though because he can get in trouble for not citing you for it. If it's a small town however the judge will probably know about it which won't be good for you at all.

[Timmee]

They'll probably hang you unless you can prove you can properly spell curfew.

[jdev]

Wow, you defenitely screwed up there pal. No sympathy.

qft.

I hope you get the chair. Eh, that may be a little extreme. I actually hope you lose the ability to get your license until you are 21. You are already busted for DUI and you don't even have a license. Its people like you that when you do get your license, you are repeat DUI offenders. The only situation I could have hoped worse for is that you drove wrecklessly and killed your own mother. That would have taught you quite the lesson, now wouldn't have it?

[Pacifist_Farmer]

[BobTheCow]

I have recently become more tolerant of those who drink and drive,

This is one of those few subjects I absolutely cannot hear debated. IF YOU DRINK, DON'T DRIVE. JUST DO NOT DO IT. I had two friends DIE last year, due to drunk-driving. Neither of them were the one driving, but they got hit by drunk drivers. Who lived. Think about it. It's ****ing irresponsible, as well as idiotic.

It's not that hard to plan ahead... find another ride, or don't drink. Goddamnit. Even if you don't KILL somebody else, or yourself, or wreck a car, you can get reamed by a DUI. Insurance and fines and suspended license and all that jazz.

Jesus christ... people, seriously, there's a reason drinking and driving is such a big deal. Ten times moreso when you're "young."

[PyRo]

Drinking and driving is just plain stupid. If you can't even walk while drunk how do you expect to hold your beer AND drive at the same time. Drink then drive people.

[tropical_fishy]

Especially if it's a woman. One single ma'am and you're a goner. Damn penis envy.

Yeah, I've had some bad experiences with cops. Let's just say there's at least one guy out there, that if I saw him burning alive in car fire, I would watch and laugh with girlish glee. Even though I have a few friends that are cops I can still hate the hypocrisy. Hey, I love the constitution and I hate anyone who disrespects it, and all the people who have died for it ... especially if they're sworn to protect it. I'd have a lot more respect for the law if they had respect for themselves.

Basically all the advice people have given you is right ... kiss butt, they love that. They seem to need that validation to feel human.

I mean, why would officers of the law want any respect from the public? Jeez, why would you have to defer to authority, especially when you broke the law? What's with that?

Women have a hard enough time getting into law school, passing the bar, and becoming judges--it's a typically "male" profession. If they get there, they deserve the respect of being called "your honor." Maybe YOU didn't mean anything by calling a female judge "ma'am," but I guarentee that at some point, she had some hick wander into the courtroom, take one look at her, and decide "she's a woman, she's too stupid to try my case" and treat her disrespectfully.

[Pacifist_Farmer]

This is one of those few subjects I absolutely cannot hear debated. IF YOU DRINK, DON'T DRIVE. JUST DO NOT DO IT. I had two friends DIE last year, due to drunk-driving. Neither of them were the one driving, but they got hit by drunk drivers. Who lived. Think about it. It's ****ing irresponsible, as well as idiotic.

It's not that hard to plan ahead... find another ride, or don't drink. Goddamnit. Even if you don't KILL somebody else, or yourself, or wreck a car, you can get reamed by a DUI. Insurance and fines and suspended license and all that jazz.

Jesus christ... people, seriously, there's a reason drinking and driving is such a big deal. Ten times moreso when you're "young."

I agree Bob, but it is demoralizing to know that every one around you who drinks, save my wife, and myself since I don't drink, gets right in a car and goes home after the party.

[Lohman446]

Women have a hard enough time getting into law school, passing the bar.

BS - show me the school that is denying women entrance based on the sole fact that they are women - passing the bar is a measure of attributes that has nothing to do with gender. Becoming a judge, maybe in that it is a political process and it will take some time for the "good old boy" clubs to erode but it is happening over time.

[Echo419]

Well I am off to court now, I wil be back soon.... I will keep everyone posted, wish me luck

[tropical_fishy]

BS - show me the school that is denying women entrance based on the sole fact that they are women - passing the bar is a measure of attributes that has nothing to do with gender. Becoming a judge, maybe in that it is a political process and it will take some time for the "good old boy" clubs to erode but it is happening over time.

In my law class, my professor expressly told us that the females in the class would have a very hard time getting through any of the more prestigious law schools in the country. He said that unless you have spectacular scores, there's a good chance you'll get passed over for the next best male.

I'll take him at his word, as he is a judge and all.