When you are stopped and charged with driving under the influence (DUI), you may only think about the cost of the ticket, attorney, and court cost itself. Unfortunately, these are only the beginning of the charges you may incur. A DUI will cost you much more, and some of this cost may negatively affect you for years to come. Here are a few costs to consider before you choose to drink and drive.
Cost Of Your Auto Insurance
A ticket for DUI in Illinois is issued when you are over the age of 21 and your blood alcohol concentration is .08% or higher. Illinois has a zero-tolerance policy for underage drinking. If you are under 21, you can be issued a ticket for any measurable blood alcohol concentration.
A DUI conviction can raise your auto insurance more than any other moving violation. Your auto insurance increases will vary from company to company, but, on average, a DUI can increase car insurance by approximately 51% over what you were paying before your conviction.
Cost Of Criminal Record Charges
The first two DUI convictions in Illinois are considered misdemeanors. While you may have to report these to your employer or list them when seeking new employment, they are often not taken seriously. But subsequent DUI convictions, convicted while driving with a license, convicted while driving for hire, or an accident with injury resulting from your DUI could cause you to be charged with felonies.
Felony convictions can cost you the following:
- Your right to own guns
- Your right to secure a lease
- Your child visitation rights
- Your right to participate in some welfare programs and more
Numerous charges on your criminal record can cost you the right to find and engage in gainful employment. An estimation is that 45% of all adults in Illinois have some charge on their criminal records. It is also estimated that an applicant with criminal convictions is 50-63% less likely to be called back or hired for positions versus candidates without a record.
The Governor of the state recently passed the Employee Background Fairness Act in March. This act prohibits employers from using your criminal record when making employment decisions. Unfortunately, there are still loopholes within the law that allows employers to do so.
Cost Of Professional Licensing
If you work in a profession requiring a professional license or security clearance, a DUI could cost you that license. This loss could not only affect your current employment but could prohibit you from working in this field or any other field requiring licensing. Some affected professions include physicians, nursing, defense contractors, educators, insurance agents, and others.
Other professions may not be affected upon your first conviction but may revoke your license for subsequent felony convictions.
Cost Of Your Driving Privileges
When convicted of DUI in Illinois, your first offense can result in revocation of your driver’s license for one year, a second conviction for a minimum of five years, and a third conviction for a minimum of 10 years. Although some courts may give you limited driving privileges to get back and forth to work, other courts may not be as lenient.
Most people do not have friends and family willing to drive them to and from work for a year or longer. Can you imagine what ride-sharing services will cost you for an extended period? Needless to say, it is a cost you probably don’t want to pay.
Daniels, Long & Pinsel, LLC can help you with your DUI charges. They are familiar with all of the due processes surrounding these charges and will fight for your rights. Contact them today to review your case.