8. Fix trigger problems
If you want to avoid aggravating the judge or making future arrests even worse, you may wish to consider fixing some outstanding problems.
Licensing and equipment
It may very well be in your best interest to get a suspended driver's license fixed, properly register any unregistered vehicle, pay off old tickets at the Mendocino County courthouse in Santa Rosa, renew expired insurance, and fix vehicle equipment violations which led to the initial stop in this incident or could lead to police stops in the future.
Under 21 employment or school
If you are under age 21 and this is your first alcohol-related driving case, and if there are no viable defenses in this matter, then your Mendocino County DUI lawyer can inform you that you may ultimately qualify for restricted driving privileges rather than the one-year suspension you are now facing. If you and your DUI attorney can adequately show the Sacramento DMV that public transportation in your area of Mendocino County is not sufficient to accomplish your transport to and from work or school, then you may be eligible. Therefore you may wish to start considering your school and/or employment options. Click here to browse local college classes at Mendocino College, College of the Redwoods, or outside Mendocino County, at Santa Rosa Junior College, or Sonoma State University. You may also wish to consider applying for a building trades apprenticeship. Click here for comprehensive list of available California Apprenticeship Programs, or click here for the Building Trades Apprenticeship Website, including contact information. Some apprenticeship programs are available in nearby Sonoma and Napa counties, such as cement masons, electricians, operating engineers, plumber & refer mechanics, and sound & communication. Another viable option may be Santa Rosa's Redwood Empire Beauty College.
To get this restricted license, you must be able to demonstrate that alternate and public transportation are inadequate to travel to work and/or school, and, although Mendocino County transit is actually adequate in many areas (click here for Mendocino County Transit Schedules), you may qualify for a restricted license if you live in outlying areas of Mendocino County, such as Leggett, Covelo, Boonville, Philo, Gualala, Elk or Westport, or even more rural areas where a combination of work and school requirements may require that you continue driving.
Click on Ten Tips To Getting Your License Back for a more complete explanation of obtaining a restricted license, including a copy of the DMV application.
Alcohol abuse or addiction
If your alcohol level was high (over 0.15%), or if this is your second or higher DUI, or other aggravating allegations are present such as evading, endangerment or hit and run, then you may wish to consider attending AA meetings to begin addressing issues or to head off continuing problems, particularly if there are no substantial defenses in this case. Often, Mendocino County courts will reward voluntary pre-sentence self-help because it demonstrates personal awareness and responsibility, and a lower likelihood of re-offending. Reward can include credits for jail time or lower fines. One meeting per day or three or more per week, and perhaps additional out-patient counseling may be very impressive to a Ukiah judge. Discuss your individual circumstances with your DUI attorney.
You can find AA locations in Mendocino County by clicking here: Local AA Meetings, and then select the Mendocino County link. There are many different types of meetings in Mendocino County so don't be discouraged if your first meeting doesn't seem to fit your issues or personality. It is important to help your DUI lawyer to prove your AA meeting attendance; click here to print out an AA Sign-Up Sheet and keep a record of each meeting attended, signed by the meeting moderator. Save the originals and give copies to your Mendocino County DUI lawyer.
Arrestees with high alcohol levels and/or multiple prior DUI's must understand that the courts will assume you have an issue with alcohol in your life (probably fair considering the increasing trouble you may be facing now). You may wish to seriously consider an additional layer of treatment such as Kaiser Outpatient in Santa Rosa or residential rehab to avoid increased penalties or being jailed during the court proceedings if there are no substantial defenses in your case. Click here to see a Sample Kaiser Scheduling Commitment. Day-for-day jail credits can often be obtained for controlled residential treatment accomplished prior to sentencing.
Click on Resources on this site, and look at the last section of the first "self-help" column for a comprehensive listing of local Mendocino County out-patient and residential rehab services, and also look at relevant links under "DUI Compliance" to view other Mendocino County drug and alcohol programs.