Got a DWI a few days ago should I still rush?

[nathan55]

Well the day after I moved in I made the stupidest decision of my life and went to move my car to a different lot and got pulled over and blew a .1 on the breathalyzer and went to jail for the night. Anyhwho im probably looking at a few classes, some community service, and a drivers license suspension. I go to Arkansas and rush week starts the 9th I believe and I was wondering your opinions on if I should still rush or just wait till next semester?

thanks

[g41965]

I practice criminal law in Texas,I've had this talk man with men going through rush who've picked up a DWI or a dope case. Take care of the DWI and make your grades first! If you have a drinking problem or your idea of fraternity life is to see if you can float the keg stay away. If you want to make friends and have a home base in college go for it. You and your parents know what is right for you. Do the right thing for the right reason

Best regards,


Glenn Adams

[Elephant Walk]

Originally Posted by nathan55

Well the day after I moved in I made the stupidest decision of my life and went to move my car to a different lot and got pulled over and blew a .1 on the breathalyzer and went to jail for the night. Anyhwho im probably looking at a few classes, some community service, and a drivers license suspension. I go to Arkansas and rush week starts the 9th I believe and I was wondering your opinions on if I should still rush or just wait till next semester?

thanks

You do not want to be a Spring.

If your parents are fine with it and the money is still there, do it. You may have to be a dd, so just trade with a pledge brother on some other cleaning duties or some such.

[ree-Xi]

/lane swerve/

Do fraternities in general have rules (or mandatory admission to the fraternity) to those who have been convicted of any crime?

/lane swerve/

[Elephant Walk]

Originally Posted by ree-Xi

/lane swerve/

Do fraternities in general have rules (or mandatory admission to the fraternity) to those who have been convicted of any crime?

/lane swerve/

You mean, like regarding having them as pledges or...?

As long as it's something minor (DWI/posession) it usually wouldn't affect our acceptance of someone as a pledge.

But I don't know if there are any rules regarding it?

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by Elephant Walk

You mean, like regarding having them as pledges or...?

As long as it's something minor (DWI/posession) it usually wouldn't affect our acceptance of someone as a pledge.

But I don't know if there are any rules regarding it?

A DWI is MINOR???????????????????????????????????????????????

[nathan55]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

A DWI is MINOR???????????????????????????????????????????????

I dont mean to downplay what I did I know Im an idiot but it is a misdemeanor. And yea after im convicted I wont be driving anywhere for a while.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

A DWI is MINOR???????????????????????????????????????????????

In the eyes of the law, yes.

As long as you don't crash, most people don't spend any significant time in jail, if any.

YMMV on whether this is a good thing or not.

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

In the eyes of the law, yes.

As long as you don't crash, most people don't spend any significant time in jail, if any.

YMMV on whether this is a good thing or not.

I'm thinking about it along the lines of what would happen to me if I got pulled over. Minimum penalties in my state for first offense are up to one year in jail, license suspension for 6 months or more, and a hefty fine.

When I think of minor, I think moving traffic violation.

[ree-Xi]

Originally Posted by Elephant Walk

You mean, like regarding having them as pledges or...?

As long as it's something minor (DWI/posession) it usually wouldn't affect our acceptance of someone as a pledge.

But I don't know if there are any rules regarding it?

Yes, pledging or being a member. What level of conviction could be grounds for not granting a bid, or even suspending/expelling a member? (If that's private, that's fine).

Originally Posted by lucgreek

If you're young and it's your first time you've ever been in trouble, chances are you won't have your license suspended and you'll have community service/probation. But if you're ever cited for underage drinking while under probation, you're going to get the book thrown at you. This means you're really going to have to stay sober during rush and your first months at college. If you get into trouble you're going to get destroyed in court.

I knew someone who had an underage OVI (what they call them in Ohio) and he had to pay a fine and be on probation for a year or two. Judge said if he was caught underage drinking he would face the maximum the judge could impose. Needless to say my friend stayed out of trouble and DD'd a ton.

Let's say such a person was at a party (where there is drinking), and the party gets busted. Do the cops give breathalyzer tests to all the underage people?

[Elephant Walk]

Originally Posted by ree-Xi

Yes, pledging or being a member. What level of conviction could be grounds for not granting a bid, or even suspending/expelling a member? (If that's private, that's fine).

I know of someone who did the maximum worst thing they could possibly do legally and not receive prison time(in some states, they would seriously be looking at three years of hard time). They were not kicked out due to their membership. However, as a pledge, the toleration is much lower and they would have been kicked out certainly. (p.s. the person miiiiiight have been me)

Getting a bid, it's almost a matter of whether or not the fraternity hears about it (and to some degree, even while pledging). As far as I can recall, we don't do a criminal background check on these guys.

[EE-BO]

Originally Posted by Elephant Walk

I know of someone who did the maximum worst thing they could possibly do legally and not receive prison time(in some states, they would seriously be looking at three years of hard time). They were not kicked out due to their membership. However, as a pledge, the toleration is much lower and they would have been kicked out certainly. (p.s. the person miiiiiight have been me)

Getting a bid, it's almost a matter of whether or not the fraternity hears about it (and to some degree, even while pledging). As far as I can recall, we don't do a criminal background check on these guys.

I know we never did background checks. Maybe national office does after the info is turned in, but in 8 years as an active/advisor I never heard of anyone having their pledgeship revoked over a misdemeanor offense- DWI included- and I knew of more than one situation where a pledge got a DWI (not my chapter necessarily.)

I see two issues here worth considering nathan55, and in offering the below advice I am not making any assumptions about what your drinking plans are going to be in the near future. There are plenty of guys in fraternities who do not drink for a variety of reasons, and pledging does not- in my experience and opinion- encourage or force drinking. GDIs off at college for the first time are just as prone to getting themselves in trouble, so on that score you will determine your own fate whether you rush or not.

1. Waiting to spring or next fall is going to really hurt your options when it comes to rush. Besides, at big southern schools you really want to pledge in the fall during football season. Spring pledging is just not the same. On this score, if your parents are okay with it- yes, rush.

2. The legal considerations. Much good advice so far. One more thing for you to check out- and might be worth talking to your attorney about this. It varies by state and probably by the nature of the offense- but I am aware of situations where probation terms include language where the person on probation agrees to not associate with other individuals breaking the law- especially in ways pertinent to the offense for which that individual is serving probation in the first place.

What you need to find out is how much at risk you are if you are sober at a party where other underage people are drinking and that party gets busted with someone checking your ID and running it through the system since they are doing a rundown on everyone there, not just the drunk ones- just to give an example. Low chances of trouble? I would guess so. But if something like that could happen, best you find out now what it could mean for you.

[Alumiyum]

Originally Posted by ree-Xi

Yes, pledging or being a member. What level of conviction could be grounds for not granting a bid, or even suspending/expelling a member? (If that's private, that's fine).



Let's say such a person was at a party (where there is drinking), and the party gets busted. Do the cops give breathalyzer tests to all the underage people?

I've been at two parties where cops checked IDs and then breathalyzed all the underage people. I was of age both times, but a few friends of mine got to spend the night in jail.

[lucgreek]

Originally Posted by ree-Xi

Let's say such a person was at a party (where there is drinking), and the party gets busted. Do the cops give breathalyzer tests to all the underage people?

It varies. At my school, no one ever got brethalyzed at a busted party, people were all told to scram. But I was in a big city that had real crimes happening.

From what I've seen at U of I and OSU, it varies from officer to officer. But if he did get brethalyzed, the officer most likely would give him an underage citation (which when it gets processed, will reveal his status).

If I was in this situation I'd play it very safe.

[nathan55]

Idk about that but I havent been convicted yet and I wont be convicted until after rush week so hopefully it wont be a problem. Anywho I spoke with my parents about it today and Im still going to rush but if I feel like its to hard to handle that, the dwi stuff, and school im gonna stop. Thanks for all the help