DUI Fines: The Cost of Getting Charged with a DUI
If you have been charged with a DUI or convicted of drinking and driving, you might be thinking about your driving record and driver's license suspension. Unfortunately, your temporary inability to drive wherever the wind takes you is not the only thing that will be a tough reality. DUI convictions are costly, with DUI fines, jail time, possible hike in insurance rates and maybe buying an ignition interlock device for your car.
Although each state DUI law differs, most include DUI fines in their list of penalties for a DUI. Most states' DUI fines depend on the circumstances of the crime, and DUI fines increase with each DUI conviction.
DUI Fines: Additional Costs of a DUI
On top of DUI fines, some states like Arizona require people with DUI convictions to get ignition interlock devices installed in their car. When the court orders for you to have an ignition interlock device installed, they usually require that you pay for all of the costs that come with it. The cost for renting an ignition interlock device is usually somewhere between $70 and $100 a month plus tax. You also have to pay for the installation of the device, which ranges from $100 to $200. Like any other technical tool, the ignition interlock system needs maintenance and downloading, which are also at your expense.
Increased car insurance rates after a DUI conviction can sometimes be more costly than DUI fines. Some states require people charged with a DUI to carry high-risk insurance for years after a DUI conviction. Even if you don't have a car, you might be required to carry the insurance in order to have your driver's license reinstated.
Coupled with DUI fines is usually jail time. This too will cost you because you have to take time off work to serve your sentence. A DUI conviction may lead to a loss of your job in some cases, especially if you have an occupation that requires you to drive.
DUI Fines: Other Resources
