The Finance Blogger

Being charged with a DUI offense can be a lot more expensive than many people realize. Just paying to hire a drunk driving defense lawyer is expensive enough. How many times have you been out with friends or family and had one or two drinks? Then get in the car to drive home? It used to be that we were worried about someone driving when they had been drinking all night long. They had many drinks and were obviously over the limit and should not be behind the wheel. They were over the limit, and we let them drive anyway. This was the wrong thing to do, and many people had accidents because of it.

We all Know Someone Who Has Been Stopped for a DUI

One of our neighbors’ kids was supposed to be the designated driver, which usually means that you do not drink, and the DD drives everyone else around. Everyone is supposed to take turns. It is a much safer way for you and your friends to have a night out drinking if you can count on one person being responsible and not drinking.

Apparently, they felt that they could have a couple of drinks, four to be exact, over a period of five hours. They felt they would still be okay to drive and would be under the limit. They were stopped on the way home. Unfortunately, when she gave a breathalyzer test, she failed. The car was impounded and towed to a storage yard, and she was charged. Now she has to pay to get her car back and deal with a lawyer, which is going to be expensive.

Drunk Driving Defense Lawyer – DUI Laws are Much Tougher Today

DUI laws are getting much stiffer in many places. It used to be that if you were under .08, the police would give you a warning and let you go on your way. Not so any longer. If you do blow over .08, you are charged with a criminal offense on the spot. You could spend time in jail and have your car towed, and the cost to get it back is around $1000 for the towing and storage. You also lose your license immediately.

With the tougher laws, a new warning level can still cost you a lot of money and embarrassment. You lose your car for three days if you blow from .05 to .08. You also lose your license for three days, and you receive a fine that can cost up to $150. The total cost will be around $2000 for the fine, for towing, and for storage of your car. Multiple offenses at this level will see stricter sanctions, including an in-car breathalyzer machine. Which will not let the car even start unless you are not drinking at all.

They Should Not Have Been Drinking

Our neighbor’s kid blew .1, well over the limit, and has been charged with a criminal offense. They have no choice but to hire a lawyer to defend the child. They will try to decrease the charge so there is no criminal conviction. The cost for the lawyer will be at least $5000 and could be as high as $8000 in addition to any fine, towing, and car storage. If convicted, they cannot travel to other countries since most countries restrict criminals from entering their country.

If this kid were the DD, why did they drink at all? Perhaps they thought they could follow the one-drink-per-hour rule, which is risky, as it turns out. If you are the DD, it’s better not to drink at all than risk being stopped and charged with drinking.

The bottom line is that if you value your ability to drive, your ability to travel to other countries, your ability to not be embarrassed in front of your friends and neighbors, and your money, don’t take the chance. Stay away from the driver’s seat of the car if you have been drinking. It is just that simple.

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