By now, most people have been inundated with the warnings against drinking and driving. We all know that driving while intoxicated is dangerous and significantly increases the odds of being involved in a motor vehicle collision. You don’t have to be involved in a collision though for a Driving under the Influence, or DUI, charge to have a significant impact on your life. Simply being convicted of DUI can have substantial repercussions. For example, do you know how much a DUI conviction will cost you in Nebraska? Even if you are not sentenced to spend any time in jail, the financial cost of a DUI conviction can be staggering. Clearly, every DUI prosecution is different and every defendant has a unique set of facts and circumstances that make up his/her life; however, there are some common expenses that most people incur when convicted of driving under the influence in Nebraska, including:
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Towing and storage of vehicle – this can vary depending on how long your vehicle is in storage but typically runs about $150-$300.
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Bail – anything from nothing if you are released on your own recognizance (OR) to $500 or more.
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Missed work – count on at least 2-3 days between your initial arrest and having to appear in court later on. Even at minimum wage the cost will be $100-$150. The more you make per hour the more you stand to lose.
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Complete loss of job – in some cases a conviction for DUI means the complete loss of your job.
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Attorney fees – this figure can vary significantly from a small token amount ($50-$100 for a public defender fee) to $5,000 or more if you choose to hire a private criminal defense attorney and fight the charges.
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Temporary transportation during license suspension/revocation – in Nebraska your license will be revoked for a period of six months for a first-time DUI. You may eventually be able to drive with the installation of an ignition interlock device (IID); however, you will undoubtedly occur expenses relating to the need for substitute transportation in the interim. At just $100 per week for alternate transportation you will easily spend $400 in just one month. If you are forced to find alternative transportation for the entire revocation period you could easily spend over $2,500.
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Court costs and fines – for a first-time DUI these typically run around a minimum of $1,000
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Probation fees – for every month you are officially on probation you will have to pay a probation supervision “fee.” A probationer usually has to pay an initial “enrollment” fee of around $50 and then pay monthly supervision fees for each month thereafter.
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Alcohol monitoring fees – if you are ordered to wear a “SCRAM” bracelet you will have to pay an installation fee of around $25 and a monthly monitoring fee of around $15 for each month thereafter.
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DUI school/classes – this could be anything from a one-time class to weekly meetings. Typically, there is an enrollment fee of around $50 and you may also incur additional costs beyond that initial fee.
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Ignition interlock device (IID) fees – if your license has been revoked the only way to get your driving privileges back may be to install an ignition interlock device (IID). Expect a one-time installation fee of around $50-$100 and then monthly monitoring fees averaging $50-$75.
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Insurance premiums increase – aside from the cost of completely losing your job, the increase in insurance premiums is often the most expensive factor in a DUI conviction. Though the amount of increase will vary, depending on your previous driving history, age, and details of the DUI, insurance companies tell people to expect a 50-100 percent increase. Worst of all, the increase will continue for several years. In total, expect to spend an additional $2000-$5000 more in insurance premiums as a result of a DUII conviction.
When all of these costs are added together you are looking at an average minimum cost of over $10,000 for a driving under the influence conviction. Most of these costs only apply if you are convicted of a DUI. If you have a potential defense in your case, therefore, it is well worth pursuing as the immediate cost of doing so is usually far outweighed by the long-term costs of a conviction.
If you have been charged with DUI in Nebraska contact Petersen Criminal Defense Law 24 hours a day at 402-509-8070 to discuss your case with an experienced criminal defense attorney?
Attorney Petersen was invited to join the National Advocacy for DUI Defense (NAFDD) organization in 2013. NAFDD vets thousands of lawyers and only chooses those who have achieved stellar results in DUI defense cases. Attorney Petersen was named one of the Top 50 defense attorneys in Nebraska out of more than 5,000.
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