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If you are hitting the bar on St. Patrick’s Day, do not drink and drive. In fact, never drink and drive. It is a simple concept and hopefully, after knowing the cost of a first time DUI in California, it will be an even simpler concept to understand and follow.
Here are the costly consequences:
- License is revoked for a period of time. To get it reinstated, you need to pay $100.
- Car insurance will increase for a few years and it all add up to the tens of thousands of dollars. Most people do not think of the long-term overall cost because they only look at it in the short term, but if you add up your insurance payments over a few years and compare it to the cost you would be paying if it was not increased, you will be surprised. The average is $40,000 total for 3 years.
- You will need to take and pass a DUI course, which will cost at least $600.
- Your car will be impounded and you are responsible for the towing and storage. Expect to pay at least $600 or more if the car is kept longer.
- You can go to court without a lawyer, but it is not recommended to do this. Attorney fees can be a few thousand dollars. The average for a first-time DUI will be around $4,000.
We will let you do the math and add those average figures up. Also note that these figures are for first-time DUI cases where the driver is pulled over by a cop. The cost will increase drastically for repeat offenders, and those who end up in accidents since they will then be paying for hospital bills and car repairs.
This does not have to be you, just don’t drink and drive.