The Costs of Drunk Driving
Erik Schouman
Drunk Driving under DUI laws is a very costly affair. If you are arrested for drunk driving under DUI, you are at risk of losing a lot of of things and any attempt to salvage them will cost you dearly. A moderate cost assessment of a DUI conviction stands at $5000 which includes: Fines Attorney fees Higher interest rates Cost of counseling programs Cost of ignition interlock device Towing fee The first thing you have to shell out would be a fine. A lot depends upon how many times you have been convicted for DUI. A second and third offence means more fines. The fines differ from state to state and ranges from $200 to $2000 onwards. A fourth offence and cases of injury or damage caused by drunk driving will be charged as felony and that means steeper fines. Drunk Driving can land you in deep trouble. You can even get a jail term that will affect your record. In many cases, hiring an attorney is the only way you can get minimum punishment and penalties. However, attorney fees can set you back by anything over $1000. This fee will mount when your case gets dragged over a considerable period of time, If you get convicted for drunk driving, another thing that shoots up is your interest rate. In a few cases, the premium might just double. Besides, in some states insurance companies can cancel your policy if you have a conservative risk insurance. A DUI conviction not necessarily means only steep fines and higher insurance rates. The court might order you to enroll in a rehabilitation or counseling program. You may have to attend a short course on substance abuse. The charges of such programs are $100 onwards for just a few hours. Another thing that just might add to your conviction costs could be ignition interlock device. Getting it installed in your car means another dent in the wallet. If your vehicle has been seized, you might also have to shell out a towing fee. Drunk driving also brings many hidden costs in its wake. A DUI case will affect your work and could mean income losses. A conviction will be on your permanent record and can disqualify you for many jobs in future.
|