Being arrested for and accused of drunk driving can be embarrassing if not devastating for many, and as people prepare to resolve their cases, one of their biggest concerns tends to whether or not they will have to go to jail for some period of time. While the potential loss of one’s freedom is certainly something to be concerned over, what people may not realize is that the DUI costs they face may be far more of an issue.
In this three-part blog series, we will highlight some of the most common DUI costs people have to contend with in the event they end up being convicted of DUI. If you or a loved one has been accused of DUI in Alabama, you can do your best to minimize your possibility of conviction, as well as your possible future DUI costs, by contacting the Montgomery and Birmingham DUI defense lawyers at Joe Reed & Associates, LLC.
DUI Costs for First-Time DUI Convictions
When people are convicted of drunk driving for the first time in the state of Alabama (and no injury or fatalities were associated with the event), the following are the primary DUI costs that they will typically incur:
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Court DUI fines – For a first-time DUI in Alabama, the court fines (which may also be referred to as “restitution”) can range from $500 to as much as $2,000, with the details of the case playing a role in determining where the DUI court fines fall in this broad spectrum. This does not include an additional $100 court fine, the proceeds of which are invested in the Impaired Drivers Trust Fund.
- Driver’s license reinstatement DUI costs – The court costs are just one aspect of the DUI costs that convicted people will have to contend with. Additionally, if they want to get their driver’s license reinstated, they will have to pay various fees to the Alabama Department of Public Safety.Specifically, there is a $275 fee to reinstate a driver’s license in Alabama when it’s been suspended due to a first-time DUI conviction.
- Alcohol education program costs – Part of the penalties that the courts typically hand down as part of a first-time DUI conviction in Alabama is mandatory attendance to an alcohol education program, and covering the costs of enrolling and completing this program will be up to the convicted individual.For a “level 1” program (which is reserved for first-time offenders who had lower BACs and weren’t in a DUI accident), the cost of enrollment as of November 2014 is $189. This cost progressively increases as the program levels (and time commitment) increases.
- Car-related costs – From having to get your car back after it was towed to possibly having to pay for the installation and maintenance of an ignition interlock device in your vehicle, the car-related DUI costs people can face after a first-time DUI conviction can vary greatly. On average, however, these DUI costs tend to be between about $250 to $700 (depending, of course, on how long ignition interlock devices have to stay on people’s vehicles).
We will pick up this discussion in two additional parts of this blog series that will be published soon – be sure to look for them!
Montgomery and Birmingham DUI Defense Attorneys at Joe Reed & Associates, LLC
After being arrested for a DUI, you can count on the Montgomery and Birmingham DUI defense lawyers at Joe Reed & Associates, LLC to be aggressive advocates for your rights.
To learn more about how we can help you, call us at 334-834-2000, or email us using the contact form at the top of this page. Initial consultations are free in most cases, and evening and weekend appointments are available for your convenience.
From our offices based in Montgomery, we provide superior representation to people throughout the state of Alabama.