In Japan, there is a no tolerance for drinking and driving (but in a cool twist as a passenger in a car/cab you can actually drink). I have well gotten used to that, and if I drive anywhere I'm fine without the booze. It's also made me a stern advocate of implementing that kind of rule in Canada. For obvious reasons it removes the subjectivity involved in the breathalyzer tests, and how one will be getting home after a night out. Walk, train it or budget for a cab as part of your night out. Or get a non-drinking friend to be your mascot/group dd (and buy them dinner)!
But in terms of the OPs question, it looks like legal advice is your best advice. Feel bad, learn from it and be glad you didn't cause anybody serious harm.
Last edited by TheCommodoreAfro; 09-23-2011 at 06:10 PM.
In Japan, there is a no tolerance for drinking and driving (but in a cool twist as a passenger in a car/cab you can actually drink). I have well gotten used to that, and if I drive anywhere I'm fine without the booze. It's also made me a stern advocate of implementing that kind of rule in Canada. For obvious reasons it removes the subjectivity involved in the breathalyzer tests, and how one will be getting home after a night out. Walk, train it or budget for a cab as part of your night out. Or get a non-drinking friend to be your mascot/group dd (and buy them dinner)!
But in terms of the OPs question, it looks like legal advice is your best advice. Feel bad, learn from it and be glad you didn't cause anybody serious harm.
I was only in Tokyo briefly, but from what I could tell the options were a) leave at 9 to catch the last train, b) budget a small fortune for a cab, or c) drink until 7am and get the first train out. I went with c. I enjoyed that system, or at least the pictures indicate that I did.
Re: Friend forgot his wallet at the house we were just at (literally 5 houses away). Did an illegal u-turn.
Would have made that u-turn completely sober?
I know i dont need much at all to make me more agressive (ie: more dangerous) behind the wheel even though im not impaired (past tense... i havent owned a vehicle for 20 years).
I was only in Tokyo briefly, but from what I could tell the options were a) leave at 9 to catch the last train, b) budget a small fortune for a cab, or c) drink until 7am and get the first train out. I went with c. I enjoyed that system, or at least the pictures indicate that I did.
Obviously very briefly. Trains out as far west as Yokohama and as far east as Chiba still run well past midnight, so not sure why you had to catch a train at 9 (unless you were staying in Nagano). And if you're stuck, option c is always a decent option (mind you, the trains start at 5am, so once again, not sure where you were actually staying).
As a non-visitor with an expense account for work, I will say that it takes the sting out of the cab ride home if you can expense it....
I got pulled over by a cop yesterday for speeding along McKnight. He asked if I had had anything to drink that night and I told him that I had a couple of beers over the last few hours, so he proceeded to give me a breathalyzer test (incredibly scary, even though I was confident that I was well within the legal limit).
Anyways... my question is this: He told me that once the breathalyzer was complete, it would either read an "F", meaning I was over the legal limit, an "A", meaning my license would be suspended for 24 hrs, or a number between 0-49, to which I scored a 13 (thank god). Anyone know what the numbers 0-49 represent in terms of blood alcohol level? And what kind of level would result in you getting a 24 hour driving license suspension?
I got pulled over by a cop yesterday for speeding along McKnight. He asked if I had had anything to drink that night and I told him that I had a couple of beers over the last few hours, so he proceeded to give me a breathalyzer test (incredibly scary, even though I was confident that I was well within the legal limit).
Anyways... my question is this: He told me that once the breathalyzer was complete, it would either read an "F", meaning I was over the legal limit, an "A", meaning my license would be suspended for 24 hrs, or a number between 0-49, to which I scored a 13 (thank god). Anyone know what the numbers 0-49 represent in terms of blood alcohol level? And what kind of level would result in you getting a 24 hour driving license suspension?
I believe that F = 0.08 and over, A = 0.05 - 0.075, and 0 - 49 = 0.00 - 0.045
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Obviously very briefly. Trains out as far west as Yokohama and as far east as Chiba still run well past midnight, so not sure why you had to catch a train at 9 (unless you were staying in Nagano). And if you're stuck, option c is always a decent option (mind you, the trains start at 5am, so once again, not sure where you were actually staying).
As a non-visitor with an expense account for work, I will say that it takes the sting out of the cab ride home if you can expense it....
I was in central Tokyo and had to get back out to Narita for a flight in the AM (which I slept through and had to beg my way onto the next one). From what I could tell (admittedly had no idea what I was doing) my options were pretty limited. To be honest I would likely have chosen c regardless, I was what you would call highly irresponsible at that point in my life.
Re: Friend forgot his wallet at the house we were just at (literally 5 houses away). Did an illegal u-turn.
Would have made that u-turn completely sober?
I know i dont need much at all to make me more agressive (ie: more dangerous) behind the wheel even though im not impaired (past tense... i havent owned a vehicle for 20 years).
Absolutely, the u-turn was only done because I needed to turn around to get the wallet. Had nothing to do with drinking.
Now before you jump on me, hear me out...
After only 3 drinks I was pulled over and arrested for blowing over .08. It sounds like a cliche, but I sincerely felt that I was capable of driving. The terrible reality that you are "one of those people" is the worst feeling. I understand what I did was wrong and am prepared to take my lumps as I deserve it.
My question is for anyone else who has gone through this...
What kind of penalties did you receive?
What was your blood/alcohol level?
In all fairness those who choose to take shots, fire away. As long as you have never made a mistake.
Props to you for making this thread and even more props of admitting you were in the wrong.
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I wish this was a possibility, as I would never do it again. unfortunately $$$ factors in.
It's probably going to cost you more down the road if you plan on driving again if if you don't fight it than it will cost you to fight it. Drinking and driving RGMG, however if for some unseen reason I found myself in a similar situation I would be finding some way to get a decent lawyer. I learned a long time ago that it's usually worth fighting any ticket you get, especially in Alberta.
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I recall back in the 80's, one of our secretaries went out for a drink with friends after work. She drank only 2 glasses of wine, was stopped on the way home, and blew over .08. I would estimate her to be normal height and weight.
She was devastated with the embarrassment and cost of losing her licence for 6 months, paying a large fine and having to take a course on alcohol addiction.
I spent $10,000 defending myself in a similar situation, best money I spent. I learned my lesson after the 3 month suspension. I have never touched a drink a drove again. It was a wake-up call in my life.
With a lawyer, you can plea bargain. An impaired driving charge can turn into a careless driving conviction and probation.
Right now, one thing that you can do that might help yourself is go to AADAC and get into a program. It may show initiative to the judge and prosecutor.
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Absolutely, the u-turn was only done because I needed to turn around to get the wallet. Had nothing to do with drinking.
I went through this and i won't lie it sucks.
First things first, you need to be honest with yourself. Did you blow over? It's really that plain and simple. Judges won't look at anything but that.
Consult a lawyer you know and trust, don't just go to these 'Specialists in DUI's' jokers. They are basically the McDonalds of law.
Ask the lawyer yuo trust flat out what your chances are. If its not good. Bite the bullet, take the hit and save yourself the time and money of fighting this.
You'll be driving in a yr and your criminal record will be cleared in 2-3, well you'll be pardoned anyway. It sucks but it's what i wished i did. Instead of wasting more time and thousands of dollars on a lawyer.
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Location: Close enough to make a beer run during a TV timeout
Exp:
I know I may be flamed by the "zero tolerance" crowd; but here goes........
A good lesson from this is how you should accept social drinks. Obviously it is better not to drink before driving; but if you know you are going to have a couple of drinks before getting behind the wheel- make it beer. And make it canned or bottled beer; not draught.
With canned or bottled beer you are able to know exactly how much alcohol you have consumed. In the OP's case he may have been the victim of a host with a generous "free-pour." So instead of 1oz of booze per glass he may have received 3 or 4 oz.
I mention draught because it has it's own set of issues. The first is many people count a pint as "one beer." However it can be anywhere from 16 oz to 24 oz; so 33% to 100% bigger than one beer. The other issue is when sharing a pitcher with friends; the polite thing to do is to fill others' glasses before filling your own. Once again, it is hard to get a read on how much alcohol you are consuming.
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