I am 19 and I recently got a DUI in California. I have never had any speeding tickets, and my record is 100% clean. I thought it was my legal right to decline all tests, including the blood test (I now know this was not the right thing to do.). They did a forced blood draw. I ended up with DUI (0.24 BAC), Blood Test Refusal, and Obstructing a Police Officer. My DUI lawyer spoke with the DA recently and said the DA is only willing to drop either the refusal, or the obstructing a police officer. If I plead to the judge DUI + Refusal, its 48 hours in jail and some fines and days of service (like a DUI usually is). If I plead to the judge DUI + obstruction there is no jail time and approx. $500 more in fines (on top of the DUI penalties).
I have a few questions. I feel as though this is a MAX sentence, and that my lawyer might not have been trying as hard as he could have been trying. Is this possible? I am a student at a 4-year university, never had any other run-ins with the law, and I feel as though this is a little too harsh. My next question is, how does obstructing a police officer look on your record? As it is only a misdemeanor, I feel that it might not be __that__ bad to have on my record.
Yes, 48 hours in jail is not much, and would save me $500, I am just trying to decide if its worth the longest 48 hours of my life for this stupid misdemeanor.
Thanks

