I was arrested for a first offense DUI. How much will this cost me?

I was arrested for a first offense DUI. How much will this cost me?

When you take the time to have the costs of a DUI explored, you may be shocked to realize that the total is staggering. While the costs vary by state, some estimate at total near or above $10,000, and that is just for a first offense.

Many people never calculate all the expensive elements of a DUI:

• Bail, court costs, fines, and fees: can add up to between $700 - $4,000

• Towing from the arrest scene after a license suspension: $100 - $1,200

• Increased insurance rates, sometimes for as much as 5 years: $4,500 or more

• Attorney’s fees (including investigators and expert witnesses): $2,000 - $25,000 depending on the complexity of the case

• Alcohol evaluation, education, and treatment: $300 - $2200

• License reinstatement fees: $95 - $250

Those are just the quantifiable costs, but you may have to include lost work time due to court dates, community service, DUI education, and jail sentences. Some offenders may lose their job entirely because they are unable to drive or obtain professional licenses required in their field. Of course, any job applications in the future will require you to list your DUI conviction, possibly costing you that job.

The bottom line is a DUI is costly, and it can be well worth the investment in a skilled DUI attorney to help you fight the charge, get the charges reduced, or find alternative sentencing.