<p>Last night I was arrested for possession of paraphernalia, possession of narcotics, possession of alcohol by a minor, driving under the influence (not alcohol) and refusal to take a drug test. My court date is Tuesday and I'm not sure what will come of this. I'm not worried about having my license taken away, being on probation, or having to do community service but am I worried about how this will affect my chances at getting into a college.</p>
<p>I have a 5.5/6.0 GPA (straight A's, my school uses a weird system), I'm a Junior, and I take all honors and two AP classes. I scored a 1300 on my SATs the first time and have yet to take the time, but with preperation I hope to break 1400. I am also a member of National Honors Society for my school. This is my first offense and I guarantee it will be the last, but the police officers gave me the impression that this will greatly impact my chance at going to any respectable college. One officer told me that the admissions officer would toss out my application after seeing the check in the "yes" box for the "have you ever been arrested" question. After reading this thread, my impression is that it's alright if you make a mistake as long as you learn from it (which I certainly have), but I can't help but wonder if this one night will hurt me a lot down the road.</p>
<p>My older son was arrested for DUI his junior year. We got a "smart lawyer" (sounds swarmy, but I don't mean that --). At my son's court date, the lawyer presented the judge with all the facts regarding my son -- honor student, varsity athlete, both parents present with him in the courtroom, the fact that it was his first offense and that kids are stupid. He pleaded no contest and the judge agreed to let him take a 10-week "alcohol education" class. It was agreed that if he got into no more trouble during the next year, his record would be "expunged" -- in other words, erased from his "permanent record." So when he finally applied to college, he was able to legally check "no" in that box.</p>
<p>Ethical? I don't know. But legal.</p>
<p>My advice: Get a good lawyer. It'll cost some money, but if you are truly a Good Kid Who Made a Stupid Mistake, it's worth it.</p>
<p>Also: Be aware that the police officer's job is to scare the cr*p out of you and make you quake in your boots. They cuffed my son's hands behind his back and through him into the back of the squad car. Believe me, he's been a good boy since then. (I think.)</p>
<p>As I read it, you're looking at several offences there. Yes, it will be affecting your chances. Get a good lawyer. As was brilliantly said on another thread like this, don't try to game the system. It sounds harsh but true. </p>
<p>"Stupid kid" nothing. Stupid is jumping off a building onto an empty sidewalk. DUI and everyone who was driving around you should get a chance to say a few words to the add directors at each college you apply to. This is me being blunt, take it as you will: I hope it does affect your chances. Being able to say it was a stupud mistake when it affects you and your family only is one thing- "your first and last time" doing it. DUI is another story altogether.</p>
<p>I'm not sure about admissions, but drug convictions affect your ability to get federal aid. I'm not sure on the exact wording, so check it out....</p>
<p>The drug in question was marijuana, and the amount was less than 4oz so I wasn't charged with intent to sell. None of the narcotics were actually mine, somebody else was also charged with possesion, and since the narcotics didn't belong to me I'm assuming I won't be convicted of that (I can't say for sure though).</p>
<p>As far as the DUI goes, I had consumed no alcohol (and had no intent to). They are changing me with being high at the time of driving, but I didn't take a urine test so I'm wondering if they will be able to convict me of that either.</p>
<p>I guess all I can do is find a good lawyer and hope for the best. I'm not sure if I should accept their plea bargain (whatever that will be), plead no contest, or plead not guilty and try to get off.</p>
<p>No I wasn't driving recklessly at all. They justified pulling me over because my tailight was out. They didn't perform any tests on me at all, so I'm not sure how they can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that I was under the influence.</p>
<p>They don't have to. Most states require you, as a prerequisite to drive, to consent to take drug tests if asked by an officer. Refusal to do so is a crime in and of itself. That is, they can haul your ass off to jail just for refusing to take a drug test. YMMV (depending on the state), IANAL, etc. You're in a bit of trouble. Delete any mention of drugs here, too. FFS.</p>
<p>Well, if you really weren't driving in a way that could've harmed somebody, you have my sympathies. That's bad luck that you got pulled over. Hopefully you'll just get a fine.</p>
<p>If you were smoking marajuana it remains in your system for awhile. If they test you in the next few days it will likely show up. There is DNA evidence in the strands of your hair for months. I don't know if they can demand a hair test though. You are in trouble no matter what since you are underage driving passengers with illegal substances in the vehicle. (drugs, narcotics and alcohol)</p>
<p>Narcotics was weed, nothing more. I had smoked marijuana two weeks ago so I imagine I would still test positive, but last night I don't believe that there was marijuana in my system that was impairing my driving ability. I don't know they could prove otherwise either.</p>
<p>I'm not sure what you're trying to say here. I don't mean this in a derogatory way, I'm justworried and not sure how to approach this.</p>
<p>The only reason I didn't take the test is because I wanted to go home. I tried to take the test but couldn't urinate, and the officer told me he was going to hold me in the cell until I could. It was cold in the cell, he wouldn't let me wear my jacket, and I knew I wasn't going to have to urinate for a long time so I just said I would refuse. </p>
<p>I realize I made a mistake, I just don't want to have to pay for it for the rest of my life. The officer told me I would have no hopes of going to MIT but instead would be attending a community college because of this, and I'm doing whatever I can to make sure he's wrong.</p>
<p>I'm just saying that it sounds like the cop was being unreasonable. From pulling you over and searching (I'm assuming that's how he found the drugs) the car without a good reason, to the comment about community college, he seems to have gone out of his way to cause you harm.</p>