When to update with negative information Forum

[remainsofthebay]

So.... I was in Phoenix last weekend and I got a DUI. It's zero tolerance over there, I blew a 0.04 which is half the legal limit in most places, but not in Arizona. I'm planning on getting an attorney and pleading not guilty, and it should take a while to all shake out. Is there any reason to update schools at this point when I'm not even sure I'll be convicted? Although, i'm not optimistic either.

[ManOfTheMinute]

So.... I was in Phoenix last weekend and I got a DUI. It's zero tolerance over there, I blew a 0.04 which is half the legal limit in most places, but not in Arizona. I'm planning on getting an attorney and pleading not guilty, and it should take a while to all shake out. Is there any reason to update schools at this point when I'm not even sure I'll be convicted? Although, i'm not optimistic either.

It depends on each school to which you applied and what their language on C&F is.

For example, Harvard asks, "Have you ever been convicted of, or pled guilty or no contest to, any felony or misdemeanor..." whereas Yale asks "Have you ever been convicted of, or pleaded guilty or no contest to, a felony or misdemeanor, or are there any criminal charges pending against you?" For Yale, you would have to tell them. Harvard, it would not appear so based on this wording.

Edit: Oh, and all the applications have instructions that say if any of your answers to the C&F questions would change between submission and matriculation, you have to inform them immediately.

Edit 2: Those are some strict DUI laws... I'll make sure to look those things up before traveling because I had assumed it was .08 everywhere

[LexLeon]

So.... I was in Phoenix last weekend and I got a DUI. It's zero tolerance over there, I blew a 0.04 which is half the legal limit in most places, but not in Arizona. I'm planning on getting an attorney and pleading not guilty, and it should take a while to all shake out. Is there any reason to update schools at this point when I'm not even sure I'll be convicted? Although, i'm not optimistic either.

Whoa, that's a strict law; but I think I like it. You're saying that even a person of legal drinking age cannot drink and drive to any extent?

[Tiago Splitter]

So.... I was in Phoenix last weekend and I got a DUI. It's zero tolerance over there, I blew a 0.04 which is half the legal limit in most places, but not in Arizona. I'm planning on getting an attorney and pleading not guilty, and it should take a while to all shake out. Is there any reason to update schools at this point when I'm not even sure I'll be convicted? Although, i'm not optimistic either.

Whoa, that's a strict law; but I think I like it. You're saying that even a person of legal drinking age cannot drink and drive to any extent?

In Arizona they can assume you have been driving for the past two hours and work backward to figure out what your BAC was when you theoretically got in the car at that time. But I lived there for several years and never heard of anyone actually getting a full blown DUI for this.

[remainsofthebay]

So.... I was in Phoenix last weekend and I got a DUI. It's zero tolerance over there, I blew a 0.04 which is half the legal limit in most places, but not in Arizona. I'm planning on getting an attorney and pleading not guilty, and it should take a while to all shake out. Is there any reason to update schools at this point when I'm not even sure I'll be convicted? Although, i'm not optimistic either.

Whoa, that's a strict law; but I think I like it. You're saying that even a person of legal drinking age cannot drink and drive to any extent?

In Arizona they can assume you have been driving for the past two hours and work backward to figure out what your BAC was when you theoretically got in the car at that time. But I lived there for several years and never heard of anyone actually getting a full blown DUI for this.

Yep. NOT the place to visit. Pretty upset that I went to visit some friends, volunteered to drive us all home since I was by far the most sober (0.04!!). Didn't realize I was compromising my future. Live and learn, I guess.

[Lord Randolph McDuff]

Colorado is .05, but with none of that working backward shit.

[2014]

I would probably update after they render a final decision on you, but others might disagree with me. The safest option is to update ASAP.

[SemperLegal]

Bad news rarely gets better with time.

[westie25]

Were you underage? Usually "zero tolerance" indicates being underage at the time (i.e. Under 21, BAC over 0.00 = Zero Tolerance). I would definitely fight that. Their DUI law says 0.08 unless you're driving a commercial vehicle with a CDL. Then it's 0.04.

http://www.azleg.state.az.us/ars/28/01381.htm

ETA: Yes. Tell the schools.

[Tiago Splitter]

Were you underage? Usually "zero tolerance" indicates being underage at the time (i.e. Under 21, BAC over 0.00 = Zero Tolerance). I would definitely fight that. Their DUI law says 0.08 unless you're driving a commercial vehicle with a CDL. Then it's 0.04.

http://www.azleg.state.az.us/ars/28/01381.htm

ETA: Yes. Tell the schools.

"If the person has an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more within two hours of driving or being in actual physical control of the vehicle and the alcohol concentration results from alcohol consumed either before or while driving or being in actual physical control of the vehicle."

Really a miracle I made it out of that state with no criminal record.

[redline380]

From my personal experiences with a dwi, I can tell you that usually .04-.0799 a dui is given at the discretion of the officer. If you were exhibiting obvious signs of drunkenness, it would be safe to say the dui was warranted. .08 and beyond is a dwi no matter what. Depending on the local and state laws, I think a dui at .04 were be a perfect time to lawyer up and plead to a lesser sentence

[bbsg]

Were you underage? Usually "zero tolerance" indicates being underage at the time (i.e. Under 21, BAC over 0.00 = Zero Tolerance). I would definitely fight that. Their DUI law says 0.08 unless you're driving a commercial vehicle with a CDL. Then it's 0.04.

http://www.azleg.state.az.us/ars/28/01381.htm

ETA: Yes. Tell the schools.

Noob question that has been bothering me and I've been afraid to ask: What does ETA stand for?

ETA - Oh nevermind, figured it out.

[dproduct]

May I inquire as to why you were pulled over?

[dingbat]

May I inquire as to why you were pulled over?

Drunk driving - duh!

[rouser]

so you're over 21, and got a DUI in AZ after blowing a .04. that's like one strong beer on an empty stomach. the good news is that schools probably won't care. bad news is that the state bar might, considering that some people are too buzzed to drive even on a .04, and you did get pulled over. as someone just asked, why were u pulled over? also, was it a highway or in a residential area?

[gaud]

So.... I was in Phoenix last weekend and I got a DUI. It's zero tolerance over there, I blew a 0.04 which is half the legal limit in most places, but not in Arizona. I'm planning on getting an attorney and pleading not guilty, and it should take a while to all shake out. Is there any reason to update schools at this point when I'm not even sure I'll be convicted? Although, i'm not optimistic either.

Whoa, that's a strict law; but I think I like it. You're saying that even a person of legal drinking age cannot drink and drive to any extent?

In Arizona they can assume you have been driving for the past two hours and work backward to figure out what your BAC was when you theoretically got in the car at that time. But I lived there for several years and never heard of anyone actually getting a full blown DUI for this.

+1.

Most everyone I know (who has blown under .08) gets it dropped to reckless driving. OP, maybe you can hit up the tents and say what up to Sheriff Joe.

[dingbat]

DWI = Driving While Immigrant?

[dproduct]

DWI = Driving While Immigrant? Intoxicated

[remainsofthebay]

I'm not underage and I didn't use my turn signal to change lanes - it was also a Friday night. Sounds like I have a decent chance at getting this knocked down to something that shouldn't be much of a problem. Thanks a ton guys, drive safe (especially in AZ)

[Huey Freeman]

DWI = Driving While Immigrant?

180