Commentary

The real cost of a DUI

© Jacom Stephens

Most drivers don’t spend a lot of time thinking about how a conviction for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol (DUI) might affect their lives. You might be aware that the fine for a first offense in Colorado can range from $600 to $1,000. But did you know the fine is a relatively small part of the total amount the driver is responsible for paying?

Of course, the greatest risk of impaired driving is that you might kill yourself or another person. But even if no injury is involved, the financial impact of a DUI conviction can be enormous.

During a DUI stop
A driver who shows signs of impairment—whether from alcohol, illegal drugs or prescription medication—is asked to perform a roadside sobriety test. If arrested for DUI, he or she is asked to provide a sample of blood, breath, saliva or urine to test for alcohol or drug content. Refusing this test means you lose your license for at least a year, regardless of whether you are convicted of impaired driving.

After a conviction
Drivers who are convicted of a first DUI offense face long-lasting consequences that can impact their jobs, relationships and future lives:

A criminal record (Class II misdemeanor) for life.
Loss of license and/or an Ignition Interlock breath alcohol detector on your vehicle for up to two years.
Five days to one year in prison.
Probation, 48–96 hours of community service, and/or court-ordered alcohol education classes for up to nine months.

If an injury or fatality was involved, naturally the consequences are worse. The driver can be sentenced to four to 12 years in prison for vehicular homicide. If someone was seriously injured, that’s two to six years in prison for vehicular assault.

Costs can be more than $10,000
Even assuming a moderate fine of only $800, that amount doesn’t include other fees and court costs, which add up to a typical total cost of $10,270 for a first DUI in Colorado. The driver is charged for the blood test, the initial time spent sobering up in jail, car storage and numerous other costs. And when it’s all over, don’t forget about paying roughly $3,000 more in car insurance premiums over the next five years.

Each year, more than 240 people are killed and 4,000 are seriously injured in alcohol-related crashes in Colorado. AAA deliberately does not use the word “accidents” to describe these crashes: they are entirely preventable, and every driver has the power to avoid driving while impaired.

The consequences of irresponsibility can last a lifetime.

AAA Connection

For more resources on DUI prevention and the legal system, visit the AAA DUI JusticeLink website.

>>>Return to Table of Contents