DUI conviction is a financial wrecking ball.

Colorado’s blood alcohol limit of 0.08% for DUI which matches all other states that have lowered their intoxication limits in recent years. Even if you don’t hit anyone or cause property damage, a typical DUI costs around $10,000. This figure includes bail, fines, fees, and insurance. Depending on your employer and type of employment, your job may be at risk. These costs are intended to discourage driving under the influence which in 2009 was responsible for 32% of all auto related fatalities or 10,839 deaths in the United States.

Attorney fees:
Some attorneys will take $500 to simply come to Court with you one time and help you enter a guilty plea. With so much at stake, you need an attorney who will take a careful and detailed look at the evidence the prosecution has against you before making a decision to simply plead guilty.

Properly defending a DUI charge can cost anywhere from $2,500 to $25,000 depending on the details of your case and whether your case goes to trial. This cost may include hiring an independent investigator and expert witnesses to dispute prosecution evidence. Cross Liechty Lane PC is ready to defend you. Without a proper defense you could be in for more problems than you may realize when you enter a plea. Let’s look at the costs you may be facing:

Bail: $0 – $2,500
Bail bond companies determine the amount of your court-established bail that you will have to pay. If you are a repeat offender or your blood alcohol is above 0.15%, expect your bail costs to soar.

Towing: $120 and $20 a day for storage (under 6000 lbs.)
After you are arrested, if there is no sober driver available your car will likely be towed and put in an impound lot. In order to retrieve it you will need a valid driver’s license or identification matching the vehicle registration. If you do not retrieve your vehicle, it will be ultimately be auctioned.

Court Costs: $500 and up
No matter if you plead guilty or not you are going to pay court costs and fees, including:

• $10 – $50 jail filing fee.
• $78 Victim Assistance Fund payment.
• $33 Victim Compensation Fund payment.
• $90 for the Law Enforcement Assistance Fund.
• $15 Brain Injury surcharge.
• $25 Victim Impact Panel assessment.

Fines: $300 – $1500

• 1st offense = $300 to $1,000.
• 1st offense when there has been a prior conviction for a driving while impaired offense (BAC level greater than .05 but less than .10) = $450-$1500.
• Subsequent DUI offenses = $500-$1500.
• Alcohol Evaluation, Education, & Therapy: $625 – $1375
• Following conviction, all offenders receive a mandatory alcohol assessment/evaluation to determine the nature and extent of their alcohol problems.
• Level I Education (1st offenders) = 12 hours, two days. Cost: approximately $100.
• Level II Education (more serious offenders) = 24 hours, 12 weeks. Cost: approximately $300.

Therapy Costs: $500 and up

• Track A = 42 hours over 21 weeks (for BAC under .20, no priors). Cost: approx. $525.
• Track B = 52 hours over 26 weeks (for BAC over .20, no priors). Cost: approx. $650.
• Track C = 68 hours over 34 weeks (for BAC under .20, 1 or more priors). Cost: approx. $850.
• Track D = 86 hours over 43 weeks (for BAC over .20, 1 or more priors). Cost: approx. $1075.

License reinstatement fees: $130 and up

• All tickets in Colorado and out of state must be paid.
• All child support must be paid in full and clearance must be provided by child support agency.
• Proof of liability insurance.
• Reinstatement fees: $95.00, New driver’s license fee :  $21.00, Instruction permit: $14.00

Insurance: $$$$

One of the biggest and prolonged costs of DUI are increased insurance premiums. Your insurance company will be required to file an SR22 form for 3 years after a conviction. Many insurance companies do not offer SR22 filings. If your insurance company doesn’t drop you, expect your insurance to double or even quadruple in cost. These cost increases could last up to 8 years even if you remain incident free.

Interlock Device: $800 – $1000 per year
A judge may order an ignition lock put on your car requiring you to breath into the device preventing the vehicle from starting if you’re intoxicated.

• 1st DUI conviction
  For violations approved for early reinstatement after serving 30 days – 8 month Interlock requirement.
• 1st DUI with a blood alcohol content of .17 or greater
  2 year Interlock requirement (all stops after 1/1/07).
• 2nd DUI conviction in 5 years
  2 year Interlock requirement.
• 3rd DUI in lifetime
  2 year Interlock requirement.
• Designated a Habitual Traffic Offender after being convicted of an alcohol related driving offense after 7/1/00
  4 year Interlock requirement after serving 1 year of revocation and being approved for early reinstatement.

Alcohol-monitoring leg bracelet: $100 Installation + $300 per month
Scram devices are attached to your ankle and measure the alcohol content in your perspiration. Court orders for these devices are increasing for habitual offenders and convicted individuals whose blood alcohol levels were well above 0.08%.

Other costs to consider:

• Life insurance premiums may rise with a DUI arrest or conviction.
• Lost work hours from time spent at court or serving sentences.
• Lost job.
• Loss of professional licenses. Some professional licenses or certifications may be revoked upon DUI conviction.
• DUI convictions appear on your criminal record for employers, renters, and creditors to see.
• Social stigma of friends, family, and colleagues, knowing you were a drunk driver.

Sources:

MSN
Colorado.gov (1)
Colorado.gov (2)
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Denvergov.org
Century Council

http://www.alcoholmonitoring.com/