DP caught Drink Driving [angry] the following day after a night out - any experience?

[annonamoose]

Regular mumsnetter changing my name due to shame!

DP (not so dear right nowwas stopped saturday morning following a night out with the "lads" on the friday - he was breathalised (SP) and was found to be over the limit.

Theres no excuse and I am beyong mad, but he genuinely did think he was ok to drive and I guess its just the luck of the drawer, however, he's lucky he is just facing a fine and ban and not a Death by Dangerour driving whilst over the limit van imo.

However, his job description says that he must have a driving license in order to able to travel to other sites within the organisation, so he could face losing his job to. One of the managers was out with him that evening and he has said that he will write to the court to explain that but will they really take it in to consideration? DP also helps take my children (they are not his) to nursery/school etc.

I just really am looking for any advice if anyone has any knowledge or experience of this - will the court take in to to consideration? Where do we right, do we just take the letters with us? or do we need a solicitor? He is totally devestated and ashamed and its also v v v out of character.

HF128219 - Thats true, a sypathatic judge might be kind as it was the next morning.

My friend's reading was barely over though and he still go banned so I don't think his breath reading will make a difference.

I wonder how many of us have got up the next morning and still been over the limit without knowing - quite a few I would imagine.

You have my sympathy.

Alcohol starts to register in your system 1 hour after you start drinking - it is only after that hour that it starts to be metabolised.

Therefore if you start drinking at 20.00 you start reducing the alcohol at 21.00. Alcohol is metabolised at the rate of 1 unit per hour. A bottle of wine at 13.5% contains 10.1 units of alcohol and will take just over 10 hours to clear. So at 06.00 the next morning you could still be over the limit.

I have a bit of sympathy for those who are over the limit the next morning.
I don't think that as a nation we are in tune with this.
I can not comapre someone who has loads of pints, jumps in their car at midnight, and drives home pissed : with a father who has quite a few drinks, gets up after sleeping , showers, has breakfast and drives to buy the papers.
I know it is still over the limit. But I can not see the two as the same. But I can appreciate that they could both cause death.

thanks everyone - I know its totally wrong under any circumstances - its just such a nightmare all over. He's under 30 too (my toyboy! ) so his innsurance is going to rocket - but there you go, he could have killed someone - believe me he is WRECKED with guilt over it, he has said that he is never drinking again (not a big drinker in the first place, maybe a couple of beers once a month - I think he was trying to prove that he can keep up with his workmates - which makes me even madder) and I know he won't.

Can he use the duty solicitor or should we get him one? He has already said that he will do the course so it should go down to nine months - a hard lesson to learn but better than the alternative

I do not think you will need a solicitor if he is going to plead guilty. Have a letter written to the Magistrate by a person of standing who knows him explaining it was completely out of character, a grave error of judgement, a miscalcuation of how much he had consumed and that it will not be repeated.

I'm pretty sure the courts provided my friend with a solicitor. He pleaded guilty but still had one, the solicitor spoke for him and explained the mitagating circumstances.
If he does get banned, post back on here and I'll find out from my friend which insurance companies he used after his ban was finished, I know he found some which were aimed at drink drivers and such. I'm pretty sure it was only the first year that was really really high.
Tell youtr dh to do the course as that helps brings the cost of insurance down

Dh had mitigating circumstances - he was on anti-depressants, and he had a "white out" - total memory blank, does not remember leaving hotel (where he was booked in for the night) and getting into the car. Before he went out we both very carefully checked the patient leaflet to see if he should not drink; it wasn't mentioned at all. Yet since this we have spoken to several people who have had the same issue.

Didn't make a jot of difference though I'm afraid. And yes, it was reported in the papers.

Sorry to be a doom mongerer.

he has a senior mananger at work who will write that for him. he will defo (and should) get a ban, he is extremly embarressed and appalled at what has happened, and knows he has no one at all to blame but him self.

again - thanks for all your replies