It is a saddening fact that several people die every day in the United States of America because of drunk or intoxicated drivers.
But it gets sadder. A third of all the drivers in the US get into accidents relating to DUI in their lifetime. Some of these drivers die on the spot. Some cause injuries to pedestrians. Some cause harm to businesses.
The consequences of drunk driving are beyond what money can solve. According to Aaron Black, a Phoenix DUI attorney, “Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is costly, and financial costs are the least people who commit these crimes bear.” There are emotional impacts as well as financial and legal issues.
This article discusses the full implications of DUIs.
Financial Implications
Economic inflation is at an all-time high the world over. The worst bit is that it is still rising. For those reasons, the average of $12,000 as the financial implication of DUIs has jumped to $25,000 in 2024 and could still go higher.
For context, the median income in the US is around $50,000 to $59,000, making DUIs an expensive crime.
Still, one-third of American drivers – according to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention – who get in accidents every year are made to bear these costs because they do not keep their holiday spirits in check. They cannot stay away from alcohol or from that pill before they take to the steering wheel.
The two main financial implications of a DUI are fines and court costs. Others are alcohol and drug rehab costs, random drug or breathalyzer tests, and the installation of an ignition interlocking device on the offender’s car.
Here is the breakdown of the main costs.
Fines
These monies are paid to the state, which implies that no one rule guides their imposition. Each state in America has its unique laws surrounding DUI.
In some states, first-timers pay a mandatory $1,500 fine. If the offense is classified as extreme, the offender pays up to $2,700 in fines, and if the offense is classified as super extreme, it will set the offender back $3,100.
The severity of the fines depends on the sentencing judge. Another determining factor is the driver’s past criminal record.
Court Costs
Court costs include attorney fees, court booking dates, and jail costs.
Jail costs in Phoenix begin at $62 per day. Depending on the severity of the incident, a person booked for DUI can spend as much as $2,000 for a 45-day sentence. Bail is set at a $100 minimum depending on the sentencing judge.
In all of these, attorneys must be paid. DUI-booked persons also have the misfortune of paying, even if the attorney is from the office of the public defender.
These costs begin at $1,500 and can run up to $5,000, depending on the length of the case.
Emotional Implications
The financial cost of a DUI is more than the $25,000 limit. This is because those fees only cover what the state requires as punishment.
They do not cover the cost to the offender’s employer or business, which they will neglect for days, weeks, or months as the offender tries to settle with the state. The fees do not cover the license renewal/retrieval cost after the offender has served their time.
They also do not cover the cost of restitution, damages, hospital, or funeral bills that the offender might bear.
This means that a DUI offender could spend their annual earnings just trying to get out of it.
Because DUI is a criminal offense, this adds another layer of complexity to a person’s daily life. Employers always perform background checks on potential hires and existing staff. A DUI is a blemish that can lead to a loss of income or job opportunity. It can also affect an individual’s ability to access loans, buy property, buy insurance, or even get an apartment, which can cause an emotional problem. Then they have to deal with feelings of denial and shock, anger, guilt, and a possible spiral into depression.
The development of PTSD is also high in persons booked for DUIs, as they tend to fear the stench of alcohol or the sight of drugs, even when they are not close to a steering wheel. Some tend to spiral and become worse users, making them repeat offenders.
Sadly, people deal with emotional hurt in different ways. More drinking, more drugs, less regard for their lives. The consequences of these matters are not to the law. They will then pile up more financial costs and emotional damage.
Such people could end up in rehab for life, also causing emotional hurt to their loved ones.
Legal Implications
DUI laws vary across states in the USA but typically are a combination of fines, jail time, license suspension or revocation, community service hours, mandatory alcohol awareness classes, ignition interlock device installation on the offender’s vehicle, and probation.
The following sections explain how the law can cause financial and personal costs to a DUI-booked individual.
Criminal Records
DUIs stay on your record for a decade. If you are a repeat offender, it will never go away. As stated before, criminal records can impact your ability to access loans, buy insurance, and buy or rent properties. They can also affect your ability to get jobs.
A DUI on your record also impacts access to a driver’s license. Your current license will be confiscated and can be withheld for as long as three years, depending on the state laws and the sentencing judge.
This also impacts your ability to renew your license and buy car insurance. It could also mean outright rejection or a high insurance premium.
Probation and Parole
Probation is community jail. Instead of serving time for the DUI crime behind bars, the offender will be under surveillance in the community.
They cannot move interstate or free association without their probation officer’s knowledge.
Parole is the supervised period of freedom, and the offender is granted after completing part of their jail stint.
Some of the requirements for probation and parole are frequent meetings with a parole/probation officer, abstaining from drug use, obtaining employment, restrictions on travel (including out-of-state), and completion of treatment programs for substance abuse or mental health issues.
Noncompliance means revocation of the probation or parole and a return to custody to begin a new sentence.
New charges could also be racked up by the offender, which could lead to more financial and emotional implications.
Now that you know the implications of a DUI charge, it is necessary to call a DUI attorney as soon as you fall victim. They understand the complexities of such cases and are in the best position to guide you. Never attempt to navigate such cases on your own to avoid complicating matters for yourself.