Cost of a DUI => $15k!

[JEDI]

Illinois

Don't do it!

 

[Whisper]

Drinking and driving can be bad, yes. But I'm going to have to say I disagree with the arbitrary BAC limits they use to establish "drunkenness." Said disagreement doesn't actually do much, no, but it's a moral stance of mine.

 

[Kelemvor]

Drunk Drivers deserve what they get. And usually more...

 

[mflacy]

I wasn't going to drive intoxicated because I'm not a dumbass, but your reason is good too.

 

[dullard]

I agree not to do it. But I've seen these type of "averages" before and all are highly exaggerating. DUIs are expensive, but not $15k expensive.

[*]Insurance will go up yes. How much will vary significantly from company to company. $4500 is probably an exaggeration.
[*]Legal fees can be skipped. You are guilty no matter what, you won't get off. No reason to spend $2000. Heck, just ask for a court appointed attorney for free.
[*]Court costs. Fines are possible, but highly unlikely. So cut that by $2500.
[*]Income loss. One DUI will not get you jail time, and if you get community service you can do that on weekends/evenings. Forget that $4000 cost.

Total cost is probably much closer to $5k.

 

[Ausm]

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
Drunk Drivers deserve what they get. And usually more...

I agree. My Mother was killed by a drunk driver when she was 24


Ausm

 

[Feldenak]

Originally posted by: Whisper
Drinking and driving can be bad, yes. But I'm going to have to say I disagree with the arbitrary BAC limits they use to establish "drunkenness." Said disagreement doesn't actually do much, no, but it's a moral stance of mine.

:thumbsup:

 

[Slick5150]

Originally posted by: Whisper
Drinking and driving can be bad, yes. But I'm going to have to say I disagree with the arbitrary BAC limits they use to establish "drunkenness." Said disagreement doesn't actually do much, no, but it's a moral stance of mine.

Agreed! I don't have sympathy for someone CLEARLY intoxicated driving, but .08? Come on.

 

[Reel]

Originally posted by: dullard
I agree not to do it. But I've seen these type of "averages" before and all are highly exaggerating. DUIs are expensive, but not $15k expensive.

[*]Insurance will go up yes. How much will vary significantly from company to company. $4500 is probably an exaggeration.
[*]Legal fees can be skipped. You are guilty no matter what, you won't get off. No reason to spend $2000. Heck, just ask for a court appointed attorney for free.
[*]Court costs. Fines are possible, but highly unlikely. So cut that by $2500.
[*]Income loss. One DUI will not get you jail time, and if you get community service you can do that on weekends/evenings. Forget that $4000 cost.

Total cost is probably much closer to $5k.

You don't get the attorney to get off. You get the attorney to lessen the damage that the court does to you. If you only paid $2000 for an attorney to represent you in a DUI case, that is cheap. While you can schedule the community service on weekends and evenings, are you going to schedule the court dates on the weekends and evenings too? I am sure the judge would be receptive of that. The numbers I have heard from people that got one have had $15k as the average.

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: Reel
You don't get the attorney to get off. You get the attorney to lessen the damage that the court does to you. If you only paid $2000 for an attorney to represent you in a DUI case, that is cheap. While you can schedule the community service on weekends and evenings, are you going to schedule the court dates on the weekends and evenings too? I am sure the judge would be receptive of that. The numbers I have heard from people that got one have had $15k as the average.

There is nothing to lesson here. DUIs are very standard, and you'll get the same thing that the other 5 people with a first time DUI got that day. Lawyer or not. That is, unless there was something highly unusual about your case.

The people I've known with DUIs were in the $6k range, all of which paid lawyers which did nothing at all for them. Note: add $5k to one of those to replace the totaled car she was driving, but that part wasn't mentioned in the original link.

I wish the fine was mandatory and I wish it was much larger than $2500. But that just isn't the case.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: dullard
I agree not to do it. But I've seen these type of "averages" before and all are highly exaggerating. DUIs are expensive, but not $15k expensive.

[*]Insurance will go up yes. How much will vary significantly from company to company. $4500 is probably an exaggeration.
[*]Legal fees can be skipped. You are guilty no matter what, you won't get off. No reason to spend $2000. Heck, just ask for a court appointed attorney for free.
[*]Court costs. Fines are possible, but highly unlikely. So cut that by $2500.
[*]Income loss. One DUI will not get you jail time, and if you get community service you can do that on weekends/evenings. Forget that $4000 cost.

Total cost is probably much closer to $5k.

Sorry but court appointed attorneys are not free unless you can prove you are indigent. If you have assets the court will come after them.

Insurance is based on your age, car, area you live, etc... So yea if you drive a 86 Honda and live in the middle of no where and only have the most basic insurance it might not go up a LOT. But the average is higher then you think. I have did some student legal aid work and I have seen some people have their insurance go up 10 fold. So it can get even higher then they say for a larger higher insurance area.

1 DUI CAN get jail time. most will not but it can and has happened. Depends if that person hits soemthing or soemone else. And if you don;t get jail time and are not indigent the courts will make jail time up with comm. service and a big fine.

Sorry but 5K is LOW for a DUI when it is all said and done. Also depends on th state. I know in NC we have cracked down on DUIs and judges running for office always preach about how tough they are.

Easy way out, DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE.

 

[Kelemvor]

Originally posted by: Reel
You don't get the attorney to get off.

Unless she's really hot. Angie Harmon would be fine.

 

[Zanix]

Originally posted by: Slick5150

Originally posted by: Whisper
Drinking and driving can be bad, yes. But I'm going to have to say I disagree with the arbitrary BAC limits they use to establish "drunkenness." Said disagreement doesn't actually do much, no, but it's a moral stance of mine.

Agreed! I don't have sympathy for someone CLEARLY intoxicated driving, but .08? Come on.

Yeah. Someone who gets into the drivers seat that can't walk, well... that speaks for itself. But someone who has a couple beers after work at the bar then heads home? When does this become cruel and unusual?

And I'm not trying to say D&D is a good idea, but I could pilot a veichle after 3 beers far better than some people I know stone cold sober.

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: Slick5150
Agreed! I don't have sympathy for someone CLEARLY intoxicated driving, but .08? Come on.

The reason for 0.08 is since anything near the border will get thrown out in court or reduced to a lesser crime (this is where the lawyers come in handy, but someone with a 0.20+ a lawyer won't do a darn thing for you). So with a 0.08 limit, we are really talking about something on the order of 0.11 - 0.12 for a DUI conviction, maybe 0.10 in some states.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: Zanix

Originally posted by: Slick5150

Originally posted by: Whisper
Drinking and driving can be bad, yes. But I'm going to have to say I disagree with the arbitrary BAC limits they use to establish "drunkenness." Said disagreement doesn't actually do much, no, but it's a moral stance of mine.

Agreed! I don't have sympathy for someone CLEARLY intoxicated driving, but .08? Come on.

Yeah. Someone who gets into the drivers seat that can't walk, well... that speaks for itself. But someone who has a couple beers after work at the bar then heads home? When does this become cruel and unusual?

And I'm not trying to say D&D is a good idea, but I could pilot a veichle after 3 beers far better than some people I know stone cold sober.

And have you ever proved that? Or is that just coming from your rear. I have seen plenty of the test where they get someone several drinks, get them to the limit barely, and then video them driving. Mind you they drive worth dog pooh. But before they get in they say they are fine.

Its a fact, alcohol impairs your judgment and ability to think as quickly. Of course I am sure you drive after drinking all the time and think its ok. :roll:

 

[Reel]

Originally posted by: dullard

Originally posted by: Reel
You don't get the attorney to get off. You get the attorney to lessen the damage that the court does to you. If you only paid $2000 for an attorney to represent you in a DUI case, that is cheap. While you can schedule the community service on weekends and evenings, are you going to schedule the court dates on the weekends and evenings too? I am sure the judge would be receptive of that. The numbers I have heard from people that got one have had $15k as the average.

There is nothing to lesson here. DUIs are very standard, and you'll get the same thing that the other 5 people with a first time DUI got that day. Lawyer or not. That is, unless there was something highly unusual about your case.

The people I've known with DUIs were in the $6k range, all of which paid lawyers which did nothing at all for them. Note: add $5k to one of those to replace the totaled car she was driving, but that part wasn't mentioned in the original link.

I wish the fine was mandatory and I wish it was much larger than $2500. But that just isn't the case.

Sure there is. The court actions are rarely mandatory. They have a range for the fines. They have a range for the community service and for the jail time. They may have mandated minimums that they have to give out but they also have maximums that they could choose to assign. If you get some smart ass kid in there that upsets the judge, he will probably get the book thrown at him. If you have someone with a well-connected lawyer, he will probably get the minimums and possibly even some adjustments. There is a lot of room in the court's decision on your penalty.

 

[rh71]

forget the fine... automatic 1 month jail sentence... and more for repeats.

see if they'll ever do it again...

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: Reel

Originally posted by: dullard
I wish the fine was mandatory and I wish it was much larger than $2500. But that just isn't the case.

Sure there is. The court actions are rarely mandatory...There is a lot of room in the court's decision on your penalty.

I'm very confused. I said I wish it was mandatory. Then you say, they are rarely mandatory and have lots of flexibility. Thus, you agree with me then that they aren't currently mandatory. But your post reads like you intended to disagree with me. So I'm left confused.

 

[Reel]

Originally posted by: dullard

Originally posted by: Reel

Originally posted by: dullard
I wish the fine was mandatory and I wish it was much larger than $2500. But that just isn't the case.

Sure there is. The court actions are rarely mandatory...There is a lot of room in the court's decision on your penalty.

I'm very confused. I said I wish it was mandatory. Then you say, they are rarely mandatory and have lots of flexibility. Thus, you agree with me then that they aren't currently mandatory. But your post reads like you intended to disagree with me. So I'm left confused.

Originally posted by: dullard
There is nothing to lesson here.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: dullard

Originally posted by: Slick5150
Agreed! I don't have sympathy for someone CLEARLY intoxicated driving, but .08? Come on.

The reason for 0.08 is since anything near the border will get thrown out in court or reduced to a lesser crime (this is where the lawyers come in handy, but someone with a 0.20+ a lawyer won't do a darn thing for you). So with a 0.08 limit, we are really talking about something on the order of 0.11 - 0.12 for a DUI conviction, maybe 0.10 in some states.

Yet the overwhelming number of DUI accidents are caused by those who are 0.14 and above. The fact is that 0.10 was just fine where it was, and 0.08 is unfair as the driver is not actually impaired at that point.
And you may not recall this, but flush with their success is getting the limit lowered to 0.08 about 10 years ago, MADD promptly lobbied to get the limit lowered again to 0.04. They were unsuccessful, but they keep trying.

Laws lose their respect and force when they get watered-down into unfair tyranny. When a dimebagger gets the same sentence as an armed robber, when a statutory rapist gets the same sentence as a violent serial rapist, etc.
The fact of the matter is that, while drunk driving is wrong, dangerous, and reckless without question, MADD is just a front for the modern temperance movement. It will not be happy until the man who drank one single glass of wine with his wife at a nice dinner and then drove her home gets a prison term.

 

[Anubis]

where does aircooled live???

 

[Zanix]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975

Originally posted by: Zanix

Originally posted by: Slick5150

Originally posted by: Whisper
Drinking and driving can be bad, yes. But I'm going to have to say I disagree with the arbitrary BAC limits they use to establish "drunkenness." Said disagreement doesn't actually do much, no, but it's a moral stance of mine.

Agreed! I don't have sympathy for someone CLEARLY intoxicated driving, but .08? Come on.

Yeah. Someone who gets into the drivers seat that can't walk, well... that speaks for itself. But someone who has a couple beers after work at the bar then heads home? When does this become cruel and unusual?

And I'm not trying to say D&D is a good idea, but I could pilot a veichle after 3 beers far better than some people I know stone cold sober.

And have you ever proved that? Or is that just coming from your rear. I have seen plenty of the test where they get someone several drinks, get them to the limit barely, and then video them driving. Mind you they drive worth dog pooh. But before they get in they say they are fine.

Its a fact, alcohol impairs your judgment and ability to think as quickly. Of course I am sure you drive after drinking all the time and think its ok. :roll:

Yeah I drive drunk off my ass all the time. :roll: Thanks.

So do YOU have any links to all these "tests" or did YOU just pull them out of your rear?

Obviously alcohol impairs driving abilties. Thats not what I'm questioning. I'm saying that average joe barfly on his way home is probably a better driver than my grandma.

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: Zanix

Originally posted by: Slick5150

Originally posted by: Whisper
Drinking and driving can be bad, yes. But I'm going to have to say I disagree with the arbitrary BAC limits they use to establish "drunkenness." Said disagreement doesn't actually do much, no, but it's a moral stance of mine.

Agreed! I don't have sympathy for someone CLEARLY intoxicated driving, but .08? Come on.

Yeah. Someone who gets into the drivers seat that can't walk, well... that speaks for itself. But someone who has a couple beers after work at the bar then heads home? When does this become cruel and unusual?

And I'm not trying to say D&D is a good idea, but I could pilot a veichle after 3 beers far better than some people I know stone cold sober.

ive seen people that are soo visibily drunk that they cant walk/talk/function at all and on the breathalizer and from doing a actually blood test they tested a .05, which isl egally allowed to drive, ive also seen people blow a .30 and look/act like they were stone cold sober

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: Vic
Yet the overwhelming number of DUI accidents are caused by those who are 0.14 and above. The fact is that 0.10 was just fine where it was, and 0.08 is unfair as the driver is not actually impaired at that point.
And you may not recall this, but flush with their success is getting the limit lowered to 0.08 about 10 years ago, MADD promptly lobbied to get the limit lowered again to 0.04. They were unsuccessful, but they keep trying.

I agree with the intent of your post, Vic. It is very bad to reduce the level to that where anyone who took one dose of medicine or had one drink of alcohol at dinner is a DUI. But we are far from that point. I truely think 0.08 is probably close to the right cut-off. I wouldn't support lowering it, nor would I support raising it.

Studies of post 0.08 law effects.
[*]12% fewer fatalities in crashes where alcohol was detectable.
[*]7% fewer single vehicle nighttime injury/death crashes in male drivers.
[*]6% lower proporiton of fatal crashes of legal aged drivers with BAC >= 0.10.
[*]4% to 7% lower porportion of fatal crashes with BAC >= 0.10.
[*]Overall 16% lower porportion of fatal crashes with BAC >= 0.08.

So, I think the studies show that dropping it to 0.08 did help society. Does it create problems for some people? Yes. But I don't think I want to enter a debate which compares people's "right" to drive with a BAC of 0.10 to people's right to live.

 

[Feldenak]

So those of you throwing people who blow .08 into jail, what are going to do about sleepy drivers? Sleepy drivers are just as dangerous (in some cases more dangerous) than supposedly drunk drivers.