There’s no question that driving while intoxicated is extremely dangerous to you, your passengers, and other motorists and pedestrians on the roadway. When a drunk driving accident occurs, a DUI arrest is inevitable. But even if you don’t get in a car crash while drunk driving, the police are always looking to detect drunk drivers, and those arrests can be expensive.
What is the Real Dollar Cost of a DUI Arrest?
If you’re arrested for drunk driving, your first consideration is going to be to hire a qualified criminal defense lawyer who specializes in DUI defense. Professional DUI lawyers can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000, depending on a number of factors, including the state where your arrest occurred, whether or not it’s a first offense, and whether or not property damage or injuries occurred. In addition to the attorney costs, you could be facing:
- Lost Wages
- Fines directly associated with the DUI offense
- Additional transportation costs if your license is suspended (i.e. bus, Uber, taxi, et cetera)
- Increase in car insurance premiums
- Restitution for property damage
These additional fees can easily increase the entire cost of a single DUI to well in excess of $10,000.
What are your Alternatives to Drunk Driving?
According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report, law enforcement makes over a million DUI arrests in the United States every year. Fortunately, though, getting arrested for DUI is entirely preventable. Even if you just decided to go out for a drink and it turned into three or four, you have several options that don’t require you to get behind the wheel of your car:
- Walk home if you aren’t far and live in a safe area.
- Call for a car service (like Uber or Lyft) or take a cab.
- If you’re with friends, see if one of them is sober enough to give you a lift.
- Call a family member or friend to come get you.
A lot of people worry about their car getting ticketed, towed, or broken into, but if you compare those costs with exorbitant expense associated with a drunk driving arrest, you can see why it’s better to pack up your valuables and choose a safer option.
Saving Money By Taking Precautions
Depending on how often you go out for a few drinks, leaving your car in an overnight lot and cabbing it home may start to become a big chunk out of your monthly budget. Here are a few options to taking your car that won’t cost you a fortune:
Stay Close to Home
If you drink in your neighborhood, you can always walk home. Also, the odds of running into a neighbor who can give you a lift are greater the closer you are to where you live.
Be Active
If you like to live a healthy lifestyle, but you also enjoy a few drinks, why not combine the two? Choose a destination that you can walk, bike, or skate to. You still need to be careful getting home, but you’ll eliminate your risk of a DUI arrest.
Car Pool
If you find that you tend to drink with the same group of people, take turns being the designated driver. You’ll cut down on gas and parking fees.
What to Do If You’re Charged with Drunk Driving
Different state and counties have their own laws and procedures when it comes to DUI arrests. In California, for instance, roadside exercises are voluntary, and if that’s not made clear to you at the time of the stop, an LA DUI lawyer could use that to suppress the video evidence from the stop. If you’re stopped and you know you think you’re impaired, it’s important that you remain calm and follow instructions. Any inflammatory speech or actions could be used to bolster their case against you and possibly lead to additional charges. Keep composed and contact a professional DUI criminal defense attorney at your earliest convenience.
