Trial Day
Okay, so I've been out of touch for a while. Sorry. It's amazing how much time it takes to keep your life together, with or without rehab classes and urine tests twice a week!

Quick update: I have one more week of classes to go (I think), and I've graduated to "Phase II" urine testing - that's only twice a month instead of twice a week.

SO - my trial was held about three hours away from my house, so my boyfriend and I drove down the night before. We buy non-alcoholic beer for me and the real stuff for him to enjoy in the hotel room after dinner at Friendly's. Not much going on in this little town. Besides, what are we going to do? Go out partying?

Anyway, hotel continental breakfast the next morning, then we hang out with the other potential convicts in the courtroom lobby. My lawyer shows up exactly on time, not a moment too soon, and disappears into some back room, telling me to wait there for him. As the court is assembling, he reappears and takes me outside for a consultation. He's gotten the scoop on what my likely penalties will be from this judge. 3 years probation, up to $500 fine, 40 hours community service, and an alcohol restriction on my license. (still don't understand that). Plus court fees. His advice is to move it to circuit court, so we do. I'll find out eventually what the next court date is.

Meanwhile, back to limbo. My license suspension has expired, so that's something. And my addiction classes are almost over.

Hotel costs, plus toll road. $85.75
Another $100 payment to clinic
New total costs: $1397.00

TRIAL #1
So Tuesday was my first trial - the Administrative Law Judge hearing. I was called into a little room, one desk , one judge, and me. Thething was tape recorded, and not too painful. But I eneded up with the maximum suspension for my 'crime' - that's 45 days suspension of my license in the state where I was caught. Exceptions are made for me to get to work and to class. No big deal. But a day off of work, and I had to get a friend to drive me there (as my license was suspended to drive home).

New total, btw: $1211.25 + two days off of work.

Monday March 22
Got a get-out-of-class free pass today for some reason. Don't know why, but I just signed in and they let me go. Fine by me!
So, only 0.25 for parking to add for Monday.

class 3
pretty good class today - nobody had any problem admitting that inhalants and hallucinogens are dangerous. The best part though was when one of my classmates spoke up and said he'd rather be sharing useful ideas on how to get straight and stay that way than joking around. Somebody seconded that emotion, and it started some real interesting conversation. However, i had to start paying off my bill for the classes. (Since I don't live in the county, I have to pay for my classes AND piss tests.) I'm not sure what my tab is, I think it's at about $150, but I just paid $100 of it today. Plus $14.25 for parking (I gotta go back to riding the bus, but it's such a pain.) Anyway, new total is $1211.00

Thursday
oops new total 1096.75

Thursday
piss test - $14 to park at work plus 0.25 to park there, new total: $1082.50

class 2
new total: $1082.50 - paid $15 to park and drive up to class last night. Boy, it was a blast. The topic for the night was marijuana, and all these guys are talking over each other, trying to prove how much they know about pot. Impressive. . Mostly I just got a headache from them all yelling over each other. . Can't wait for next week.

hearing notice
Today I received notice that my hearing has been scheduled to review my driving privileges. I decided that I'll do this one without my lawyer, hope it goes well enough. I figured I have already gotten past the 45 day max automatic suspension, and who cares if I can't drive anyway - it's not like I really need my car to get to work. Only to get to my DUI classes and to court. Ha.

Anyway, that reminds me, I was required to pay to have my hearing scheduled. Yep, I pay them to shedule me for a court date. That was $15 to add to the running total, making it: $1067.50

re-scheduled drop
Had to go out to the office during lunch on Friday to drop a urine sample. I couldn't make it Thursday because of a work committment, so they 'did me the favor' of letting me come in the next day to do it. Did I mention I'm getting billed $10 for each of these tests?

Ah well. Add $15 for having to drive to work and park in the garage plus $0.25 for parking by the office.

trial date moved
I got a notice last week that my trial date has been postponed, thanks to a continuance requested by my lawyer. can't wait. ha.

Running total, btw: $1037.25