The Cost of a DUI in Los Angeles County

Whenever you plan to go out and drink, you should always secure a safe ride home. The cheapest method will be to recruit a friend as designated driver, though it can be pretty difficult to do so. After all, finding someone willing to go out to a bar and stay sober while everyone else drinks and enjoys themselves can be a rare occurrence indeed.

That being the case, a safe way home usually ends up being a choice between two options: getting a taxi or trying to rent a motel room. While both options are valid, they can also both be expensive. As a matter of fact, the expense is the most common argument against both of these options. The thing is, the expense of a $50 cab fare or $85 dollar motel room pales in comparison to that of a DUI.

When someone is arrested on DUI charges, their vehicle will often have to be towed to the police impound lot, incurring an initial expense of a few hundred dollars. Second, every day that the car remains in the lot will cost $30-$50. Next, if you plan to have someone bail you out of jail, the mandatory bail for a first-time DUI is going to be $2,500. Keep in mind, these expenses are all before you go to court. Next comes the fine for a DUI which begins at $390 (but the penalty assessment cost brings it closer to about $1,400), the cost of your attorney, reinstatement of your license (if applicable), DUI school, etc.

It should be noted that the above costs are if someone is arrested on a DUI charge only. If an accident occurs while an individual is driving under the influence, he or she will be held on $50,000 to $100,000 bail, depending on whether or not somebody was injured. It’s also possible to incur additional charges depending on the circumstances. For instance, if a child is in the car with someone suspected of DUI, child endangerment charges can be filed.

All told, the cost of a DUI in Los Angeles County can be incredibly expensive; much more so than shelling out a few extra bucks for a cab ride or a motel room.

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Robin Sandoval

Robin Sandoval is a California Licensed Bail Bondsman and owner of SCV Bail Bonds. Robin writes blogs and articles to help increase community awareness of the bail industry. If you have questions or want to suggest a topic, email robin@scvbailbonds.com, visit www.scvbailbonds.com or call 661-299-2245.