Author: Colin Daives

When it comes to getting caught driving while under the influence, or DUI, there are many consequences that no one ever thinks about. You may believe that receiving a DUI just requires you to pay a fee and go to court, but a DUI is much more expensive than this, in terms of financial costs as well as court-ordered time commitments, loss of driving privileges, social stigma, and other far-reaching results.

It is true that receiving a DUI can cost you a hefty sum. The total financial cost of a DUI includes court costs, fees for a DUI lawyer, increased insurance premiums (up to $3,000 per year over your insurance costs without a DUI), car impound fees, the ticket itself, and court-ordered programs or testing. These fees can easily reach into several thousand dollars.

There is no way to escape the emotional costs of a DUI; many who receive a DUI, as well as their family members, feel ashamed or embarrassed. You can count on significant emotional pain because of your DUI, particularly if you injured anyone in the course of driving while under the influence. The possibility of injuring yourself while behind the wheel is yet another cost of driving while intoxicated. If you do injure someone while behind the wheel, you may be liable for civil suits from the victim or their family, not only your criminal conviction for DUI.

Not only are their financial and emotional costs associated with a DUI, but if convicted, there are significant time commitments for court-ordered activities, from DUI school to attending a victim impact panel to doing community service. Depending on the specifics of your case, you may even be required to serve time in jail. These programs usually have financial costs involved, too, not to mention the time lost from work for court and related programs. A DUI conviction can also prevent you from being hired by many companies, further resulting in a loss of income.

Another significant cost of a DUI is the revocation or suspension of your driving privileges. In some cases, this may even be automatic upon your being stopped for a DUI. At the end of the suspension, you'll need to pay a fee to have your license reinstated. You may be required to pay for an ignition interlock system if you wish to continue driving after a DUI.

Clearly, there are a lot of costs, both immediate and long-lasting, associated with drinking and driving. Getting a DUI can change your life forever. If you can't avoid all of the costs of a DUI, hire a DUI lawyer to at least mitigate some of the legal and financial costs. In all, a DUI can cost anywhere from a few thousand to $60,000 or more, depending on the specifics of your case. If you are arrested for DUI, the additional cost of a DUI attorney with specialized training can more than pay for itself by helping you mitigate the charges and avoid a conviction.

About the Author:

Colin Daives writes general information articles about criminal and DUI law. Each state has different laws and every case is unique. His articles are not meant to be legal advice. To learn more, contact a Denver DUI lawyer or for assistance with your case in the state of Colorado, contact a Colorado DUI attorney today.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - The True Costs of a DUI