What Does A DUI Cost?
What does a DUI defense cost? We encounter many people who want a rational, economic justification for hiring an OVI attorney on a first offense OVI. The only study I could find on this topic was a 2006 Texas Department of Transportation study which calculated the costs of a drunk driving conviction “in that state showed the total costs of a DWI arrest and conviction for a first-time offender with no accident involved would range from $9,000 to $24,000.” [source] In a story from CNBC citing that study, they speculate that total costs, absent you losing your job, could range as high as $20,000. While projecting costs without knowing your particular circumstance is wildly speculative, here are some of the expenses you may realize:
- Fines.
- Court costs.
- Attorney fees.
- Bail.
- Loss of job.
- DUI “school.”
- Temporary loss of income.
- Car towing, impounding.
- Alternate transportation costs.
- Car ignition interlock device.
- Periodic blood testing.
- Monthly monitoring fees.
- Cost of incarceration.
- Increased auto insurance premiums
Obviously, if you were to lose your job and/or your career because of an Ohio OVI conviction, the lifetime costs skyrocket. Insurance premiums, damages caused by personal injury or costs of restitution for property damages also cause the costs to climb. Some of the expenses highlighted above can take years to come to fruition and the lingering effects of having a drunk driving conviction may be with you for life.
The good news is that a good DUI attorney can significantly curb the financial detriments incurred in a DUI case. While predicting what an attorney can save you is just as wildly speculative as predicting costs, it is common for many of the costs to be subject to negotiation and/or reduction. A reduction of the charge will not only lower the possible maximum fines, but can also get rid of ugly mandatory punishments required by Ohio’s OVI statute. O.R.C. 4511.19. The best way to explore how much a vigorous DUI defense will costs in your case, contact Charles M. Rowland for a free consultation. You will leave my office knowing exactly what I charge and how I arrived at that figure. Contact Charles Rowland by phone at 937-318-1DUI (937-318-1384), 937-879-9542, or toll-free at 1-888-ROWLAND (1-888-769-5263). For after-hours help contact our 24/7 DUI HOTLINE at 937-776-2671. We also hope that you will check out “How To Hire A DUI Attorney” on the main page of this blog.
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