If you have been arrested for DUI in California, you are in all probability realizing that the toll of a DUI arrest is measurable, emotionally and moneywise. The shame of being arrested for DUI, of having to appear in criminal court, of dealing with the DMV AKA Department of Motor Vehicles, the embarrassment of having to tell your family, maybe even your supervisor. The emotional and mental costs of a DUI arrest in California are distinct for each person, but when it comes to the financial burden, it's standardized for everyone who has been arrested and charged with DUI/DWI in California.
Even if you don't fight California DUI charges against you, your cash in hand will still suffer. The initial costs of a DUI in California are the tickets, punishments and other varying charges. You will also be wanted to do the sheriff's alternative program. You may also have to pay a fee to choose, within certain limit points, when you serve your jail time so that it is the least turbulent to your life. There is also a program fee for registration in the DUI alcohol and drug school. You also have to pay the license reinstatement fee at the DMV.
That's not all. You may also have to pay for an ignition interlock device installed in your automobile if the judge decides that it is necessary. An ignition interlock device is essentially a breathalyzer that is put in the steering column of your car. Unless it shows that your blood alcohol content (BAC) is below a certain level, the automobile will not start. Once your car engine is running, you have to retest every fifteen minutes to one hour.
It also costs money when your license is taken from you when you are arrested. You will have a temporary license, which still permits you to legally drive a motor vehicle.
There is also a "hard suspension" which means you cannot legally drive. If you are like most people, you will probably still need to get around, whether it is to and from work, your children's school, the grocery store, and so on. You will not have to pay for gas, but public transportation is rarely free. If your license is ultimately suspended by the DMV, you can apply for a temporary drivers license, but there are fees to pay there too. If you continue to drive while your license is suspended, you may be subject to additional criminal charges and all the costs involved.
Another price will be your automobile insurance rates. After the DMV suspends your license, you will need to have a certain kind of car insurance for three years before you can get your license back. If you can find a car insurance company that provides it, this type of auto insurance policy is usually more expensive. Because this kind of insurance is a tell-tale sign of a DUI, some insurance companies will refuse to insure you in the future after having a DUI conviction in California.
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