I have been summoned to an arraignment for a violation of PHYSICAL CONTROL. What does that mean.?

Question

I was sitting in my car in the parking lot of the lounge I had been at with a group of people. I had to much to drink so I called my boyfriend to pick me up because I did not want to drive. While waiting for him police came up to my window and took me to jail. I called and my boyfriend picked me up there instead of at the lounge. I thought the police were giving me a DUI. I was not driving so did not understand the charges. Well now in the mail I get this summons. Do I need a lawyer? Should I just go to the arraignment without a lawyer and plead my case?

Does this mean that I do have a DUI on my record or a Physical Control?

Answer 1

Get a lawyer, this sounds strange to me.

Answer 2

If you are in a car, have the keys, and are drunk, you can get a DUI because you are in PHYSICAL CONTROL of the car. That means that the only thing stopping you from driving is your drunk brain. If the cops leave you like that, you might just drive away.

Just go to the arraignment w/o a lawyer. Tell the judge a good story and you might get off. The arraignment is just where you plead guilty or not guilty and then they set a date for trial. If they don't throw it out, you will need a lawyer. You might try to plead yourself to the lesser charge of public drunkenness, though, and be done with it with a fine.

Answer 3

First call your lawyer, and have him represent you. The crime that you committed, was being in possession of a vehicle in an intoxicated state. If the keys were in the ignition, or on your person, or within your reach, then you were considered to be in control of the vehicle. A presumption is also being made that you either drove the vehicle in an intoxicated state, or were about to. With an attorney, you may be able to get a not guilty, if your boyfriend testifies, that he was called, and was coming to pick you up. A lot depends upon the judge, at this point.

Answer 4

You need a lawyer.

I am assuming you are in AZ - this is the violation:

"28-1381. Driving or actual physical control while under the influence; trial by jury; presumptions; admissible evidence; sentencing; classification

A. It is unlawful for a person to drive or be in actual physical control of a vehicle in this state under any of the following circumstances:

1. While under the influence of intoxicating liquor, any drug, a vapor releasing substance containing a toxic substance or any combination of liquor, drugs or vapor releasing substances if the person is impaired to the slightest degree.

2. 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.

3. While there is any drug defined in section 13-3401 or its metabolite in the person's body."

If you were sitting in the vehicle while under the influence, you are considered in physical control of the vehicle. It is the same as a DUI.

Answer 5

I think (and I could be wrong) that the violation of physical control means that you were "sloppy drunk" - you weren't sober enough to have physical control over your actions (staggering, falling, sluggish, etc.). That is the only thing I can think of.

Get a lawyer - I think things could get messy if you go in yourself. Your lawyer may be able to plead down your charge and fine.

Answer 6

Get a lawyer. You are lucky you did not get a DWI charge.

Answer 7

you probably should seek advice from an attorney.

Answer 8

YES it sounds like you do need an attorney

Sec. 3 (1) Except as provided in RCW 46.61.502(6) or 46.61.504(6), a person who is convicted of a violation of RCW 46.61.502 or 46.61.504 and who has no prior offense within seven years shall be punished as follows:
(a) In the case of a person whose alcohol concentration was less than 0.15, or for whom for reasons other than the person's refusal to take a test offered pursuant to RCW 46.20.308 there is no test result indicating the person's alcohol concentration:
(i) By imprisonment for not less than one day nor more than one year. Twenty-four consecutive hours of the imprisonment may not be suspended or deferred unless the court finds that the imposition of this mandatory minimum sentence would impose a substantial risk to the offender's physical or mental well-being.

Whenever the mandatory minimum sentence is suspended or deferred, the court shall state in writing the reason for granting the suspension or deferral and the facts upon which the suspension or deferral is based. In lieu of the mandatory minimum term of imprisonment required under this subsection (1)(a)(i), the court may order not less than fifteen days of electronic home monitoring. The offender shall pay the cost of electronic home monitoring. The county or municipality in which the penalty is being imposed shall determine the cost.

The court may also require the offender's electronic home monitoring device to include an alcohol detection breathalyzer, and the court may restrict the amount of alcohol the offender may consume during the time the offender is on electronic home monitoring; and
(ii) By a fine of not less than three hundred fifty dollars nor more than five thousand dollars.

Three hundred fifty dollars of the fine may not be suspended or deferred unless the court finds the offender to be indigent; or
(b) In the case of a person whose alcohol concentration was at least 0.15, or for whom by reason of the person's refusal to take a test offered pursuant to RCW 46.20.308 there is no test result indicating the person's alcohol concentration:
(i) By imprisonment for not less than two days nor more than one year. Two consecutive days of the imprisonment may not be suspended or deferred unless the court finds that the imposition of this mandatory minimum sentence would impose a substantial risk to the offender's physical or mental well-being.

Whenever the mandatory minimum sentence is suspended or deferred, the court shall state in writing the reason for granting the suspension or deferral and the facts upon which the suspension or deferral is based. In lieu of the mandatory minimum term of imprisonment required under this subsection (1)(b)(i), the court may order not less than thirty days of electronic home monitoring. The offender shall pay the cost of electronic home monitoring. The county or municipality in which the penalty is being imposed shall determine the cost. The court may also require the offender's electronic home monitoring device to include an alcohol detection breathalyzer, and the court may restrict the amount of alcohol the offender may consume during the time the offender is on electronic home monitoring; and
(ii) By a fine of not less than five hundred dollars nor more than five thousand dollars. Five hundred dollars of the fine may not be suspended or deferred unless the court finds the offender to be indigent.
(2) Except as provided in RCW 46.61.502(6) or 46.61.504(6), a person who is convicted of a violation of RCW 46.61.502 or 46.61.504 and who has one prior offense within seven years shall be punished as follows:
(a) In the case of a person whose alcohol concentration was less than 0.15, or for whom for reasons other than the person's refusal to take a test offered pursuant to RCW 46.20.308 there is no test result indicating the person's alcohol concentration:
(i) By imprisonment for not less than thirty days nor more than one year and sixty days of electronic home monitoring. The offender shall pay for the cost of the electronic monitoring. The county or municipality where the penalty is being imposed shall determine the cost. The court may also require the offender's electronic home monitoring device include an alcohol detection breathalyzer, and may restrict the amount of alcohol the offender may consume during the time the offender is on electronic home monitoring. Thirty days of imprisonment and sixty days of electronic home monitoring may not be suspended or deferred unless the court finds that the imposition of this mandatory minimum sentence would impose a substantial risk to the offender's physical or mental well-being. Whenever the mandatory minimum sentence is suspended or deferred, the court shall state in writing the reason for granting the suspension or deferral and the facts upon which the suspension or deferral is based; and
(ii) By a fine of not less than five hundred dollars nor more than five thousand dollars. Five hundred dollars of the fine may not be suspended or deferred unless the court finds the offender to be indigent; or
(b) In the case of a person whose alcohol concentration was at least 0.15, or for whom by reason of the person's refusal to take a test offered pursuant to RCW 46.20.308 there is no test result indicating the person's alcohol concentration:
(i) By imprisonment for not less than forty-five days nor more than one year and ninety days of electronic home monitoring. The offender shall pay for the cost of the electronic monitoring. The county or municipality where the penalty is being imposed shall determine the cost. The court may also require the offender's electronic home monitoring device include an alcohol detection breathalyzer, and may restrict the amount of alcohol the offender may consume during the time the offender is on electronic home monitoring. Forty-five days of imprisonment and ninety days of electronic home monitoring may not be suspended or deferred unless the court finds that the imposition of this mandatory minimum sentence would impose a substantial risk to the offender's physical or mental well-being. Whenever the mandatory minimum sentence is suspended or deferred, the court shall state in writing the reason for granting the suspension or deferral and the facts upon which the suspension or deferral is based; and
..........:
(a) In the case of a person whose alcohol concentration was less than 0.15, or for whom for reasons other than the person's refusal to take a test offered pursuant to RCW 46.20.308 there is no test result indicating the person's alcohol concentration:
(i) By imprisonment for not less than ninety days nor more than one year and one hundred twenty days of electronic home monitoring. The offender shall pay for the cost of the electronic monitoring. The county or municipality where the penalty is being imposed shall determine the cost. The court may also require the offender's electronic home monitoring device include an alcohol detection breathalyzer, and may restrict the amount of alcohol the offender may consume during the time the offender is on electronic home monitoring. Ninety days of imprisonment and one hundred twenty days of electronic home monitoring may not be suspended or deferred unless the court finds that the imposition of this mandatory minimum sentence would impose a substantial risk to the offender's physical or mental well-being. Whenever the mandatory minimum sentence is suspended or deferred, the court shall state in writing the reason for granting the suspension or deferral and the facts upon which the suspension or deferral is based; and
(ii) By a fine of not less than one thousand dollars nor more than five thousand dollars. One thousand dollars of the fine may not be suspended or deferred unless the court finds the offender to be indigent; or
(b) In the case of a person whose alcohol concentration was at least 0.15, or for whom by reason of the person's refusal to take a test offered pursuant to RCW 46.20.308 there is no test result indicating the person's alcohol concentration:
(i) By imprisonment for not less than one hundred twenty days nor more than one year and one hundred fifty days of electronic home monitoring. The offender shall pay for the cost of the electronic monitoring. The county or municipality where the penalty is being imposed shall determine the cost. The court may also require the offender's electronic home monitoring device include an alcohol detection breathalyzer, and may restrict the amount of alcohol the offender may consume during the time the offender is on electronic home monitoring. One hundred twenty days of imprisonment and one hundred fifty days of electronic home monitoring may not be suspended or deferred unless the court finds that the imposition of this mandatory minimum sentence would impose a substantial risk to the offender's physical or mental well-being. Whenever the mandatory minimum sentence is suspended or deferred, the court shall state in writing the reason for granting the suspension or deferral and the facts upon which the suspension or deferral is based; and
(ii) By a fine of not less than one thousand five hundred dollars nor more than five thousand dollars. One thousand five hundred dollars of the fine may not be suspended or deferred unless the court finds the offender to be indigent.
(4) A person who is convicted of a violation of RCW 46.61.502 or 46.61.504 and who has four or more prior offenses within ten years, or who has ever previously been convicted of a violation of RCW 46.61.520 committed while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug or RCW 46.61.522 committed while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug, shall be punished in accordance with chapter 9.94A RCW.
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(((6))) (7) An offender punishable under this section is subject to the alcohol assessment and treatment provisions of RCW 46.61.5056.
...............:
(i) Where there has been no prior offense within seven years, be revoked or denied by the department for one year;
(ii) Where there has been one prior offense within seven years, be revoked or denied by the department for nine hundred days; or
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(((8))) (9) After expiration of any period of suspension, revocation, or denial of the offender's license, permit, or privilege to drive required by this section, the department shall place the offender's driving privilege in probationary status pursuant to RCW 46.20.355.
.................The court may impose conditions of probation that include nonrepetition, installation of an ignition interlock device on the probationer's motor vehicle, alcohol or drug treatment, supervised probation, or other conditions that may be appropriate. The sentence may be imposed in whole or in part upon violation of a condition of probation during the suspension period.
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