What Are The Financial Repercussions Of A Successful DUI Charge?

A DUI charge is not something you want to take lightly. It could have serious repercussions including a jail term, loss of reputation, and financial ruin. The article below shows you how a conviction for a DUI can affect your finances.

Bail

Pending the hearing of your case, you will have to raise bail to avoid being held in custody.

Towing

After you get arrested, your car gets impounded and towed by the police. You'll have to foot the towing bill as well as any storage charges if they keep your car for long.

Assessment and Counseling

You will be required to undergo an assessment and counseling program and this adds to your costs.

Loss of Income

In their HR policies, most companies have a clause that gives the employer the right to fire you if you are convicted in a court of law.

Probation charges

You may have to undergo probation and this comes with a fee.

Alcohol detection devices

If convicted of DUI, some states require that you fit your car with an interlock ignition device that detects your Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) level and automatically locks if it's above the authorized level. These devices are quite costly.

Transportation

Once convicted of a DUI, the courts may order a withdrawal of your driving license. This means that you have to seek alternative transportation. Such a move will see your transportation costs shooting up.

If you were involved in a car accident while under the influence, these costs will further escalate. You could face costs related to a lawsuit from a third party as a result of death or injury. The costs could be astronomical.

Education Program

If convicted of drunk driving, you will be required to attend a mandatory education program at your cost.

Attorney's Fees

Once charged, you'll be required to attend court cases. It's a good idea to hire a DUI attorney right from the start as DUI is a very serious charge. If the case goes to trial, you'll need a lawyer all the more.

Even if you choose to opt for a public defender, you'll still be required to pay part of the fee.

These are just a few of the expenses you should expect if you are convicted of DUI. There are a lot more hidden costs. Worse, you could even lose your job. Where the case involves an accident, the costs can escalate to astronomical proportions. You do not want to risk losing the case. You need to look for good criminal defense attorneys to defend you. To learn more, contact a company like Nelson Fromer & Crocco Law Offices.