| people drink and drive, they often never think about the | | | | such as attending a DUI school, participating in |
| consequences that come with getting caught driving | | | | community service or attending a victim impact panel. |
| under the influence. People assume that the only thing | | | | It's also possible you'll need to serve time in jail or |
| they have to do is show up in court, pay a fine and | | | | prison. These kinds of programs also have financial |
| that be that. However, that's not the way it goes. DUIs | | | | costs you must deal with like work time loss and |
| are a lot more expensive than fines and time | | | | court-related programs. If you have a DUI conviction on |
| commitments; it could mean a loss of your driving | | | | your record, some potential employers can and will will |
| privileges, social stigma, jail or prison time. | | | | turn you down. |
| It is true that receiving a DUI can cost you a hefty sum. | | | | Another significant cost of a DUI is the revocation or |
| The total financial cost of a DUI includes court costs, | | | | suspension of your driving privileges. In some cases, |
| fees for a DUI lawyer, increased insurance premiums | | | | this may even be automatic upon your being stopped |
| (up to $3,000 per year over your insurance costs | | | | for a DUI. At the end of the suspension, you'll need to |
| without a DUI), car impound fees, the ticket itself, and | | | | pay a fee to have your license reinstated. You may |
| court-ordered programs or testing. These fees can | | | | be required to pay for an ignition interlock system if |
| easily reach into several thousand dollars. | | | | you wish to continue driving after a DUI. |
| A DUI will also be emotionally draining; this cost can | | | | There are lots of costs which are associated with a |
| also end up affecting your family. You may feel | | | | DUI; some of these are short term costs while many |
| embarrassed or even ashamed because of your | | | | of them last for a very long time. If you get convicted |
| conviction. If you injured anyone while you were driving | | | | with a DUI then this can change your entire life. By |
| under the influence then the toll on your emotions will | | | | hiring a DUI lawyer you should be able to minimize the |
| be even bigger. There is also a possibility that you will | | | | costs and risk of getting convicted. DUI attorneys can |
| hurt yourself while driving under the influence which is | | | | be expensive however they are normally well worth it. |
| another cost few people consider. If you do cause an | | | | If you are arrested for a DUI then hiring a DUI attorney |
| injury to anyone while behind the wheel then you could | | | | can greatly improve the chances of success as they |
| be sued separately for these civil suits. | | | | have lots of experience dealing with similar cases. Of |
| There aren't just the emotional and financial costs | | | | course, the real "solution" to this problem is to not put |
| attached to the DUI that you must content with; you | | | | yourself in it in the first place by not driving when you |
| must also deal with the court-ordered commitments | | | | drink. |