Underage DUI: Conditions, Circumstances, Procedures & Ramifications & 911 Calls
Setting: PA, USA, 2006
Searched areas: Searched through little_details tags, ask_a_cop; Googled ‘underage DUI in PA’, ‘underage DUI in PA drugs’, ‘911 call drugs procedures’ ‘911 calls procedures drug overdose’ amongst so many others…
Hi!
I have a whole bunch of questions around a particular situation in my writing that sounded brilliant in theory, but is proving to be quite complicated and intricate and colossal in reality. As such, I’m not sure if I’ve bitten off more than is possible to chew. I have had reasonable successes in googling and searching for information about various individual aspects of the situation, but when I put it all together, I’m not sure if the usual rules apply. Hence, research has proved a bit of a nightmare, so any help on any of my questions and even the proposed situation itself would be greatly appreciated.
The Proposed Sequence of Events:
I have two teenage males. One is 18 (the ‘driver’), one is 17 (the ‘passenger’ - who is also the narrator). They are something akin to ex-boyfriends, if that makes any difference. The driver is off his head on something-or-other and is going to coerce (read: emotionally blackmail) the passenger into his car. The passenger will not be under the influence of anything, but he is a bit of a sucker, so he goes along with it. The driver is then going to take off onto the interstate and pull up at something like a rest stop somewhere and go a crazy at the passenger regarding their ‘break-up’. He is then going to collapse. Accordingly, the passenger is going to call 911 from his cell phone. An ambulance will be sent out - and possibly the police (see below). In real time, the whole sequence of events - from the moment the driver first starts taking the substances (in private) to the moment the passenger calls 911 - will probably be about 3 hours, but this is adaptable if needs be.
The problems arise from the fact that I have been thinking about this solely from the passenger/narrator’s perspective - who doesn’t and won’t actually know what the driver has taken or even what he’s up to - and not from an outsider’s POV: i.e. in the real world.
A few more important (I think?) details about the driver:
The driver has a history of drug and alcohol abuse, although he is not an addict. His drug of choice is cocaine, but he is not picky. He has no DUIs as of yet. However, when he was 16 he ran away, took some narcotics and was hauled into hospital after he went psychotic in public, injuring himself only, and an onlooker called the police. This whole escapade resulted in him being sent into a residential therapy facility for adolescents. His Dad is a ‘powerful’ lawyer.
Questions:
1 - Regarding the biological plausibility: For the sequences of events to work, the driver obviously needs to be coherent enough to drive for an extended period of time (albeit, undoubtedly erratically and very hazardously, and probably for only 30 minutes to an hour or so) and make the decision to pull over, before it all becomes too much for his body to handle anyway. My assumption would be that this could be fuelled by the biological effects of a very heated argument (accelerated heartbeat, high blood pressure, etc). What type of cocktail of drugs and/or alcohol might permit this? If, indeed, it’s even plausible in the first place?
2 - (In relation to 1): What might the ultimate cause of his collapse be? Just drug overdose or something like cardiac arrest? And what other symptoms might he display? I understand that this is all dependent on what he will have taken in the first place as well as any other existing medical conditions he may have (which the passenger/narrator will not know about anyway), but seeing as this is all open to the floor, any suggestions are welcomed.
3 - Regarding the 911 call: When the passenger calls 911, he is simply going to tell the operator that someone has collapsed after taking something and an ambulance will be sent. However, I assume that once the operator has got all the details out of him, the police will also be called to the scene. But if this is the case, what would be the ‘trigger’ detail that the passenger gives the operator in order for the police to be called? I’m sorry if this is a really obvious question, but I’ve never had to call 911 so I can’t even begin to guess.
4 - If/When a police car is called in:
- Would one officer or two be sent?
-What kinds of questions would the passenger be asked? I presume the usual stuff (name, age, what’s gone on here, how do you know him, who was driving, what’s he taken, what have you taken) - anything else in particular?
-Would the fact that he is 17 (a minor) and the driver is 18 have any bearing on the way the police handle the situation?
-Would the officer breathalize/drug test him too? Or would they just take his word that he has not taken anything? If they would, would it be at the station or at the scene?
-Would the officer search the car at the scene in front of the passenger? Or would it be after it is has been towed/removed?
- Would the passenger be taken back home in the police car or would they get him to call his parents and ask them to come collect him?
5 - Regarding the ramifications: A big one, I guess. Given the driver’s background, what would his ramifications? Lost licence is a given. I know PA has an absolutely zero tolerance policy to underage DUI, but given that his dad is a lawyer would it be plausible that he was sent off to rehab in place of jail? With or without additional things such as community service. I understand that his record/history (at 16) would be called up, but would it work for (similar to a plea of mental illness, I guess) or against him? Furthermore, where would he be sent after he has been released from hospital? Jail, other facility, or home (all awaiting court, no doubt)? This is kinda important as I would like the passenger to have the opportunity to talk to him face-to-face afterwards, but it isn't really essential.
Many many thanks to anyone who can offer advice/answer any of these questions - I'm aware there's a lot of them! You're all wonderful.
PS - Tagged like fury. Please amend if incorrect - it's been a long long time since I've posted here!
Searched areas: Searched through little_details tags, ask_a_cop; Googled ‘underage DUI in PA’, ‘underage DUI in PA drugs’, ‘911 call drugs procedures’ ‘911 calls procedures drug overdose’ amongst so many others…
Hi!
I have a whole bunch of questions around a particular situation in my writing that sounded brilliant in theory, but is proving to be quite complicated and intricate and colossal in reality. As such, I’m not sure if I’ve bitten off more than is possible to chew. I have had reasonable successes in googling and searching for information about various individual aspects of the situation, but when I put it all together, I’m not sure if the usual rules apply. Hence, research has proved a bit of a nightmare, so any help on any of my questions and even the proposed situation itself would be greatly appreciated.
The Proposed Sequence of Events:
I have two teenage males. One is 18 (the ‘driver’), one is 17 (the ‘passenger’ - who is also the narrator). They are something akin to ex-boyfriends, if that makes any difference. The driver is off his head on something-or-other and is going to coerce (read: emotionally blackmail) the passenger into his car. The passenger will not be under the influence of anything, but he is a bit of a sucker, so he goes along with it. The driver is then going to take off onto the interstate and pull up at something like a rest stop somewhere and go a crazy at the passenger regarding their ‘break-up’. He is then going to collapse. Accordingly, the passenger is going to call 911 from his cell phone. An ambulance will be sent out - and possibly the police (see below). In real time, the whole sequence of events - from the moment the driver first starts taking the substances (in private) to the moment the passenger calls 911 - will probably be about 3 hours, but this is adaptable if needs be.
The problems arise from the fact that I have been thinking about this solely from the passenger/narrator’s perspective - who doesn’t and won’t actually know what the driver has taken or even what he’s up to - and not from an outsider’s POV: i.e. in the real world.
A few more important (I think?) details about the driver:
The driver has a history of drug and alcohol abuse, although he is not an addict. His drug of choice is cocaine, but he is not picky. He has no DUIs as of yet. However, when he was 16 he ran away, took some narcotics and was hauled into hospital after he went psychotic in public, injuring himself only, and an onlooker called the police. This whole escapade resulted in him being sent into a residential therapy facility for adolescents. His Dad is a ‘powerful’ lawyer.
Questions:
1 - Regarding the biological plausibility: For the sequences of events to work, the driver obviously needs to be coherent enough to drive for an extended period of time (albeit, undoubtedly erratically and very hazardously, and probably for only 30 minutes to an hour or so) and make the decision to pull over, before it all becomes too much for his body to handle anyway. My assumption would be that this could be fuelled by the biological effects of a very heated argument (accelerated heartbeat, high blood pressure, etc). What type of cocktail of drugs and/or alcohol might permit this? If, indeed, it’s even plausible in the first place?
2 - (In relation to 1): What might the ultimate cause of his collapse be? Just drug overdose or something like cardiac arrest? And what other symptoms might he display? I understand that this is all dependent on what he will have taken in the first place as well as any other existing medical conditions he may have (which the passenger/narrator will not know about anyway), but seeing as this is all open to the floor, any suggestions are welcomed.
3 - Regarding the 911 call: When the passenger calls 911, he is simply going to tell the operator that someone has collapsed after taking something and an ambulance will be sent. However, I assume that once the operator has got all the details out of him, the police will also be called to the scene. But if this is the case, what would be the ‘trigger’ detail that the passenger gives the operator in order for the police to be called? I’m sorry if this is a really obvious question, but I’ve never had to call 911 so I can’t even begin to guess.
4 - If/When a police car is called in:
- Would one officer or two be sent?
-What kinds of questions would the passenger be asked? I presume the usual stuff (name, age, what’s gone on here, how do you know him, who was driving, what’s he taken, what have you taken) - anything else in particular?
-Would the fact that he is 17 (a minor) and the driver is 18 have any bearing on the way the police handle the situation?
-Would the officer breathalize/drug test him too? Or would they just take his word that he has not taken anything? If they would, would it be at the station or at the scene?
-Would the officer search the car at the scene in front of the passenger? Or would it be after it is has been towed/removed?
- Would the passenger be taken back home in the police car or would they get him to call his parents and ask them to come collect him?
5 - Regarding the ramifications: A big one, I guess. Given the driver’s background, what would his ramifications? Lost licence is a given. I know PA has an absolutely zero tolerance policy to underage DUI, but given that his dad is a lawyer would it be plausible that he was sent off to rehab in place of jail? With or without additional things such as community service. I understand that his record/history (at 16) would be called up, but would it work for (similar to a plea of mental illness, I guess) or against him? Furthermore, where would he be sent after he has been released from hospital? Jail, other facility, or home (all awaiting court, no doubt)? This is kinda important as I would like the passenger to have the opportunity to talk to him face-to-face afterwards, but it isn't really essential.
Many many thanks to anyone who can offer advice/answer any of these questions - I'm aware there's a lot of them! You're all wonderful.
PS - Tagged like fury. Please amend if incorrect - it's been a long long time since I've posted here!