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| - In 2007 I made two stupid mistakes during a personal issue that caused me to receive two DUI's. Totally deserved, I chose the wrong answer to dealing with a divorce. Since then, I haven't been behind a wheel a single time due to no license and hadn't pursued a license due to finances.
I went to Stonewall Institute for a DUI Revocation Assessment in November.
I met with Kyle, who sat with me for about a half hour and asked some questions off a sheet regarding past drug and alcohol use. He let me know we were finished and told me the DMV would mail out his decision. From him first calling me back to me walking out the front door, he had zero personality. I'm sure he does this all day long and it would get old, but I just paid $200. A smile or anything would help.
I received a denial due to "the evaluator has determined you have a condition that impairs your ability to drive". $200 down the drain.
I couldn't believe it, as I don't have any addiction history with drugs or alcohol. I spent a week upset and convinced myself my license was hopeless. Family urged me to try again with a different therapist, so I submitted my packet to the courts again. After receiving the packet back I found John Carter on google. I saw his ad the first time and saw all the "$100 evaluations!" on google and figured I'd go to what I thought was the "industry leader" Stonewall, and paid the extra money thinking things would be faster. Boy was I wrong.
I went and saw Mr. Carter and answered the same questions the same way and Mr. Carter saw no reason why I would be denied. He sent off my packet and I left excited. While I was with Mr. Carter, he educated me on the history and process I was going through, his history, and answered any questions I had. The experience was night and day to the service I received at Stonewall, where Kyle read questions off a piece of paper and sent me on my way.
Another month later, I received another denial! My heart sunk. The denial reason "You failed to disclose to your new evaluator your opiod prescription." WHAT? I had a prescription for 8 Vicodin tablets over 15 years ago after a root canal. After taking one, I didn't like the way it made my stomach feel and didn't take the rest, just used ibuprofen. I disclosed this to both Kyle and John. I figured there must be a mistake, so I requested a hearing with the executive hearing office. Fast forward a month and a half, I received a letter back with the date of my hearing. Fast forward another month, its my hearing date over the phone. The judge questions me about my opiod prescription, I tell him the same thing about taking a single Vicodin my entire life and he asks me why Kyle would put that I had a taken opiods within the last 3 years. WHAT?! I explained that it wasn't true and it was possible that Kyle mistook my answer when I said "I even got a root canal about 3 years ago and declined Vicodin because I didn't like it."
The judge said he would send out the answer within the next few days. About 5 days later, i received a letter overturning the denial and a day after that I was legally behind the wheel for the first time in almost 8 years. This was June 5th.
Deciding to go to Stonewall Institute caused me a 7 month delay, $200 to them, $30 for priority mailing of my packets/letters back and forth, and many nights of confusion and discouragement/sadness. If you are looking to get an evaluation done, I recommend you don't go to a place that also sells the counseling services that would "cure" you if they deny you. Go to someone that offers just evaluations and has no monetary incentive to deny you. Don't get Stonewalled.
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