Getting arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) can have serious financial consequences in Pennsylvania. In addition to a driver’s license suspension and possible jail time, DUI convictions also carry steep fines under Pennsylvania law, and they can cost you much more in the months and years following your arrest.
So, how much is a DUI going to cost you? Here’s what you need to know:
Financial Costs of a DUI Conviction in Pennsylvania
If you get convicted of driving under the influence in Pennsylvania, you will face several financial costs as a result of your DUI conviction. These costs will add up quickly; and, if you lose your job as a result of your conviction, your DUI could impact your finances for the rest of your life—including your retirement.
The financial costs of a DUI conviction in Pennsylvania include (but are not limited to):
Fines
All DUI charges carry fines under Pennsylvania law. If this is your first DUI and your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was less than 0.10%, you are most likely facing a fine of $300. However, if this is not your first offense, if your BAC was 0.10% or above, or if your case involves any of a variety of aggravating factors (i.e., causing an accident or having a minor in your vehicle), you could be facing a fine of $5,000 or more.
Alcohol Education
If the judge sentences you to mandatory alcohol education, you will need to attend these classes at your expense. If you fail to attend any mandatory classes, this could lead to additional fines, jail time, and/or other penalties.
Ignition Interlock Device (IID)
Installation of an ignition interlock device (IID) is mandatory following a DUI arrest in many cases. If you are required to install an IID in your vehicle, not only will you have to pay for the device and have it installed at your expense, but you will have to pay for monthly monitoring as well.
Driver’s License Reinstatement
If your BAC was 0.10% or above or you have one or more prior DUIs on your record, a DUI conviction can result in a driver’s license suspension of 12 months or more. Once you become eligible to have your driver’s license reinstated, you will need to pay the reinstatement fee in order to restore your ability to drive.
Auto Insurance Premiums
When you restore your ability to drive, you can expect your auto insurance premiums to go up substantially. While Pennsylvania does not require SR-22 insurance, having a DUI conviction on your record can increase your premiums by hundreds of dollars per month.
Losing Your Job
Pennsylvania is an “at will” employment state, and this means that employers can fire their employees for any reason or no reason—as long as they do not discriminate or retaliate in violation of the law. This means that you could lose your job as a result of your DUI.
Many employers will fire employees who get DUIs, either because they want to protect their reputation or because they believe that a DUI conviction reflects recklessness or poor judgment. Of course, if you get sentenced to jail time or your job involves driving, your employer may have no choice other than to find someone else to fill your role.
Losing Future Job Opportunities
Regardless of whether you are currently employed, a DUI conviction could also result in the loss of future job opportunities. Your DUI will show up on background checks (unless and until you have your record expunged), and prospective employers may choose not to hire you based on your DUI alone.
While the financial costs you are facing depend on several factors, a DUI conviction could easily cost you tens of thousands of dollars—if not more—over your lifetime. As a result, it is critical that you fight your DUI, and hiring an experienced Stroudsburg DUI defense lawyer is the first step in the process.
How an Experienced Stroudsburg DUI Defense Lawyer Can Help
While it’s true that hiring a Stroudsburg DUI defense lawyer will add to the short-term out-of-pocket costs of your DUI arrest, hiring an experienced lawyer to help you fight your DUI can potentially save you a substantial amount of money in the long run. If you are facing a DUI charge in Pennsylvania, here are just some of the ways an experienced lawyer may be able to help you:
- Determining What Defenses You Have Available – There are several potential defenses to DUI charges under Pennsylvania law. Your lawyer will be able to determine which defenses you can assert based on the facts of your case.
- Seeking Dismissal of Your DUI Charge – Depending on the facts of your case, you may have grounds to seek a pre-trial dismissal. If your lawyer can get your DUI dismissed prior to trial, this will substantially reduce the costs of your arrest.
- Negotiating a Plea Bargain that Avoids a DUI Conviction – If seeking pre-trial dismissal isn’t an option in your case, it may make sense to target a plea bargain. If warranted, your lawyer can negotiate for a plea bargain that avoids a DUI conviction.
- Helping You Enroll in Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) – If this is your first DUI arrest, you may be eligible to enroll in Pennsylvania’s ARD program. This provides another opportunity to avoid a DUI conviction without going to trial.
- Fighting Your DUI at Trial if Necessary – Sometimes, going to trial will be the best (or only) option under the circumstances at hand. If you need to fight your DUI at trial, your lawyer can use his or her experience to fight for a “Not guilty” verdict in court and seek a reduced sentence on your behalf if necessary.
Schedule a Free Consultation with Stroudsburg DUI Defense Lawyer Brian C. Jordan
Do you need to know more about the financial costs (and other consequences) of a DUI in Pennsylvania? If so, we encourage you to contact us promptly. To schedule a free consultation with Stroudsburg DUI defense lawyer Brian C. Jordan, call us at 570-373-9343 or tell us how we can re