Conventional wisdom understands that driving under the influence (DUI) is a risky endeavor. Not only does it endanger the lives of you and everyone around you, but it also carries criminal penalties. A person convicted of a DUI in Illinois could face jail time, a monetary fine, and a loss of driving privileges. If you are a repeat offender, or if your actions resulted in another person’s injury or death, the penalties increase.
There are also collateral damages that result from driving under the influence. For example, if you hold a professional license (such as a medical license, a license to practice law, a pilot’s license or a stockbroker’s license), a DUI conviction could affect your professional status. Each professional organization has its own rules regarding criminal convictions, so be sure to check with the appropriate regulating body for your particular license.
Other costs incident to a DUI conviction or arrest include:
- Towing expenses – When you are arrested for a driving-related offense such as a DUI, your car gets towed. The cost of retrieving it is all on you. This can be really expensive, depending on where you are arrested. Chicago in particular imposes a hefty price tag.
- Bail – Before you can retrieve your car you will have to bail yourself out of jail. The cost will depend on whether or not you are a repeat offender or if someone was injured due to your actions.
- Insurance premiums – Many insurance companies will increase your premium (or drop coverage altogether) for a DUI arrest, even if you are not convicted. The same is true of a DUI conviction.
- Alcohol education and treatment – The court may require you to attend DUI risk courses or complete substance abuse treatment, depending on the circumstances of your case and the results of your alcohol and drug evaluation.
- Driver’s license reinstatement fees – If your license is revoked or suspended you will have to pay a fee before it will be reinstated (in addition to meeting other requirements).
- Time – You will likely have to miss work for court appearances or to fulfill court-ordered requirements such as community service, alcohol education, and substance abuse treatment. Lost time often equals lost money, depending on your professional circumstances.
- Driving privileges – While mentioned above, this consequence is worth repeating for people who depend on their cars in order to get to work or school, or just to perform the ordinary tasks of daily life such as going to the grocery store. Moreover, some people need to be able to drive in order to work at all. A bus or truck driver cannot perform his duties without a driver’s license.
- Future opportunities – A DUI conviction becomes a part of your permanent record; it can never be expunged. That will not look good on your resume.
If you are charged with driving under the influence, you need an experienced Chicago criminal defense attorney who can help you avoid both the criminal and the collateral consequences of a DUI conviction. Contact us today for a consultation. We can assist those in Chicago and the surrounding area.