Drunk Driving

DUI Fines And Other Results Of A DUI Offense

Driving under influence is a punishable offense and the cases of DUI (Driving Under Influence) are being dealt with strictly now a days. In fact the punishment has gone from harsh to harsher in the recent years. DUI fines are a form of this punishment which intend to stop the guilty person from repeating such an act in the future. The amount of DUI fines depend on the facts of a defendants case and the laws of the state or jurisdiction of the crime.

Under some state jurisdictions the DUI fines can be anywhere between an amount of 500 to 1000 dollars in case it is a first offense. Under some states jurisdictions the DUI fines can climb up to an amount of fifteen thousand dollars for people with prior DUI convictions. DUI fines are the only form of fines imposed on convicts by the criminal justice system. The DUI fines can also be imposed by the Department of Motor Vehicles.

DUI fines is not limited to the money paid as a fine. In fact, it also involves the time spent on legal proceedings, the money needed for hiring a good lawyer and other additional costs.

Also, the impact of DUI fines extend beyond the normal amount of the fine. It also involves an impact on the accused's personal life. It can impact the insurance premium of the accused. Actually the DUI fines reflect on the accused's criminal record and Department of Motor Vehicle record which is accessible to insurance companies. As a result the insurance premium may get affected. In some cases the insurance coverage is also dropped.

Another impact on the accused's life is that he/she can lose his/her job or could be rejected for a new job. This is due to the fact that the employers usually check the criminal records and department of motor vehicle records of their present and prospective employees.

If the accused is also involved in a child custody case then he/she stands a chance to lose it as the court usually checks the criminal records of the parents to decide who should get the custody of the child.

The only relief factor is that although the amount of a DUI fine is pretty high, the court takes into consideration the accused's financial status. If an accused is not financially sound enough to pay the fine the court usually prohibits the fine.

DUI fines can be a pain in the neck and the accused has to bear the weight like a dead body on his/her back. Therefore, it is a smart move to avoid driving under influence and steer clear of these DUI fines.

Drunk Driving