Any criminal charge, no matter how minor it may seem initially, should be vigorously and fully defended. Criminal charges stick around for far too long, with the individual’s criminal history haunting them while they hunt for new opportunities — may they be a new job, a new apartment or home, or a new line of credit. Anyone accused of a crime should consult with an attorney to make sure their case is handled appropriately from the beginning.
But if there is a single charge that we could single out for being financially devastating to an individual, it is the DUI. A drunk driving charge can not only ruin future (or even present) job prospects, it also carries an immense financial toll with it.
If you consider all of the financial factors at play in a DUI, you might be surprised with the results. Say you are stopped and arrested on the suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Right off the bat: you have fees for spending time in a cell, having your car towed and impounded, having your license suspended or revoked and being bailed out.
Then you have fees for court dates, alcohol therapy and education classes, ignition interlock, sentencing fees and costs related to renewing your license in the future.
And then there are the lingering costs. You have to pay for alternate forms of transportation while your license is suspended. Your insurance rates will dramatically increase, and probably for years to come. And, as we mentioned above, your job prospects could be damaged, affecting your income.
All told, a DUI can cost someone tens of thousands of dollars. Don’t underestimate the financial consequences of a DUI. Get an attorney as soon as possible to defend your case.
Source: BACtrack, “The High Cost of a DUI,” Accessed Aug. 22, 2016