just an example of the cost....
You’re a 25 year old out on a Friday night. You had a couple of beers too many and your blood alcohol level is a .08. You jump into your 1997 American made sedan and misjudge a turn. You over-steer and crash into a “no parking sign.” The local police department and fire department respond to the collision, but you’re not injured; only intoxicated. You’re arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. Now get out your wallet for the penalties that will be imposed. Hopefully that $20.00 an hour job will be enough to pay for this first time drunk driving offense.
$ 700.00 - You are charged for “cost recovery” of the police and fire departments time and personnel services
$ 97.95 - Your vehicle is towed
$ 149.00 - You are booked into the local jail
$1,150.00 - You call your attorney –This fee will get you approximately 3 court appearances (non-trial)
$1,300.00 - Court fine for driving under the influence
$ 100.00 - Court assessment for victim/witness program
$ 320.00 - You will miss approx. 1 full day and 2 half-days of work for court appearances
$ 32.00 - You will need to obtain a vehicle release form from the police department to pick up towed car
$ 42.50 – Tow yard storage fee for your car -
Your current insurance policy is
$700.00 a year and your rates will be raised for three years, unless your insurance company decides not to renew your policy and drops you.
$ 500.00 - Your insurance collision deductible
$ 140.00 - Your insurance rates are raised 20% because you will lose your “good driver” status for 3 years
$1,000.00 - Insurance surcharge (each year for 3 years)
$ 622.00 - You will lose all your years of “driver experience” (each year for approximately 3-9 years)
$ 825.00 - A DMV hearing with your attorney to get your driver’s license back
$ 80.00 - You will miss a half-day of work for the DMV hearing
$ 100.00 - Payment to DMV for the administration per se (suspended driver’s license)
$ 12.00 - Payment to DMV for a duplicate copy of your driver’s license
$ 571.00 - Driving under the influence awareness classes
$ 55.00 - Administration fee for the Sheriff work alternative program (picking up garbage on the side of the road)
$ 16.00 - $8.00 per day for work alternative program (2 days)
$ 160.00 - You missed two half-days of work for work alternative program
$ 389.68 - 14 day rental of a compact economy car while your car is in the shop getting repaired
$8,362.13 - Grand total for your first drunk driving offense – Is it worth it?
