The vast majority of driving under the influence (DUI) cases in Illinois involve technical violations of the law. In these scenarios, a person accused of the DUI did not cause a crash or any harm to other people. Instead, there is simply evidence that they had an elevated blood alcohol concentration (BAC) while driving.
The state may still pursue charges against them that carry penalties including jail time, large fines and a driver’s license suspension. Some people, especially those facing a first DUI charge, may choose to plead guilty because they think that doing so is cost-effective. What they may not understand is that the potential consequences of a DUI extend beyond the fines that the courts may impose. For example, the following secondary costs may increase the total expense that a DUI conviction inspires.
Court costs
People who plead guilty often expect to pay a fine. What they may not realize is that court costs can potentially be as much as or even more than the fine imposed as part of their sentence. People often pay more than $3,000 in court costs. Those court costs can take months to pay off in full and can substantially increase the total economic impact of the DUI charge.
Program-related fees
There are a variety of different programs that a DUI defendant may need to participate in after a conviction. They may need to install an ignition interlock device (IID) in their vehicle. The costs can add up to more than $1,000. Alcohol education programs and driver education programs can also come with hefty charges that the defendant has to cover in order to fulfill the terms of their sentence or regain their driver’s license. There may also be license reinstatement fees of nearly $600 imposed by the state in many cases.
Higher insurance costs
The companies issuing motor vehicle liability insurance policies charge specific prices based on the risk a driver represents. A DUI violation is one of the most concerning traffic violations someone could have on their record. A single DUI conviction raises the average cost of an Illinois insurance policy by $665 or 51%.
Lost income due to career consequences
Those who drive for a living have to maintain a commercial driver’s license CDL. A DUI conviction can cost someone their CDL even if the offense took place in their personal vehicle. Some people may lose their jobs oh while serving a sentence of incarceration. Others might be at risk of termination because of a conviction if their employer has a zero-tolerance policy. Moving on to a new job or securing a promotion can be substantially harder when a professional has a criminal record.
The choice to fight a DUI charge can potentially help someone preserve their license, avoid jail time and protect their income. Partnering with a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible after a DUI arrest can be more cost-effective than pleading guilty and hoping for the best.
