Economic Impacts of Getting a DUI

You might think that getting a DUI conviction is only a matter of paying a fine, but the impact on your finances is greater than you realize. Not only will a person arrested for a DUI get stuck with higher insurance rates and fines, but also they can wind up having more money troubles than they thought possible. In fact, if you get arrested for a DUI, even if you hadn’t injured anyone, you could still end up paying thousands of dollars in fines, incidentals, higher insurance fees and bail.

Costs to First Time DUI Offenders

The next time you get ready to drink and drive, you might want to think about what it can do to your bank account. For example, if you get arrested, bail can cost you anywhere from $150.00 to $2500.00 and that’s only the beginning. Now that you’ve been arrested, you have to have your car towed. In some cities the cost of retrieving a car can be as high as $1200. And if you can’t afford to get your car out of storage, the city could without your permission auction your car off, leaving you without a car. Next are insurance rates. Some insurance companies often double or triple your premiums and some may even drop you entirely.

More Costs for DUI Offenders

DUI fines can range in price depending upon the state, but could be anywhere from $300.00 to $1200.00. Now of course if you want to get your license back, you’ll have to add in fees for alcohol treatment programs which can go anywhere from $350.00 to $2,000.00. A judge can also order that you have an ignition lock be placed on your car and you have to pay for it. The cost of an ignition lock is generally about $70.00 per month. Adding even further to the stress of added bills is the fact that a person who gets arrested often misses work because they are busy dealing with court dates and potentially jail time, so income goes down as bills go up.

Legal Fees For a DUI

If you get arrested you surely need the help of a DUI attorney, and legal fees are not cheap. If the case is not very involved, you might be able to get off with only a $500.00 fee for the dui lawyer, but if you decide to fight the charges your legal representation could cost anywhere from $2500.00 to $25,000.00. And then your dwi attorney who should be thorough in their investigation may hire an investigator, which could go as high as $3,000.00. When all is said and done, a DUI can be very costly. However you look at it, getting a DUI is going to put a dent in your wallet. So before stepping on the gas pedal the next time you have a few drinks, it might be a good idea to think about the consequences not only to your reputation but also to your bank account.

Article Source: http://www.straightdui.com