Cost of a DUI Conviction Goes Far Beyond the Obvious
Average Costs Range from $5,000 - $20,000
If you've been charged with a DUI, you undoubtedly know that a drunk driving charge can be an expensive proposition. You may already have posted bond, and then you probably know that if you're convicted, you can expect fines, costs, and license reinstatement fees. In addition, you may have to pay probation fees, the cost of mandatory drug and alcohol assessment and counseling, and the cost of any associated monitoring like an ignition interlock device or continuous alcohol monitoring.
Beyond those direct costs, you can also expect to pay much higher automobile insurance rates, often for years after your license is reinstated. Studies focusing on various states around the country have found the average cost of a DUI conviction to range from $5,000 to $20,000, and some of those costs are increasing.
Illinois is one of the few states providing an official estimate of average DUI costs. The typical Illinois DUI conviction costs the drunk driver $14,660. That average takes into account lost work time and attorney fees. Without those two items-if you missed no work time and were not represented by a DUI lawyer-you could expect to pay approximately $8,660 in direct DUI-related expenses.
High risk insurance, required in Illinois for three years after reinstatement of your driver's license, means an average increase of $1,500/year in automobile insurance costs. The fine for a DUI conviction varies from state to state: in Illinois, it may be up to $2,500. Additionally, an Illinois driver convicted of DUI can expect $500 in court costs, a contribution to the trauma center fund, and towing and storage fees.
Then there are fees for driver's license reinstatement and substance abuse counseling/education.
Of course, that total doesn't take into account costs for monitoring equipment such as an ignition interlock device or the emerging continuous alcohol monitoring system. In addition, some states require fees not included in the Illinois breakdown. For instance, Washington state requires those convicted of a DUI-or sentenced on a lesser related offense after being charged with DUI-to pay $125 to the state toxicology lab, and to make a $500 contribution to the state's victim's fund.
