If you’ve been charged with drunk driving in Arizona, you’ve got a lot on your mind, starting with figuring out how to get around while your license is suspended. And no doubt you’ve considered whatever fine you’ll end up paying. But unfortunately, the fine is just a part of the expense of the Arizona DUI cost you’ll need to bear.
- Attorney fees. Depending on whom you choose and the type of charge you’re facing, your defense for DUI could cost you $1,000 or $10,000. Don’t forget you’ll be paying not just the attorney fees but for other necessities such as independent experts to testify for you.
- Court costs. The courts will charge you up to $1,500.
- Fines. For a first offense, you’ll pay at least $1,250 in fines. Add fees and surcharges to that.
- Towing. Your vehicle gets towed after an Arizona DUI arrest. That will be about $100 plus a mileage charge. You’ll have to pay for storage as well.
- Alternate transportation. While your license is suspended, you’ll need to get around other ways. That can cost money.
- Jail. If you spend the night in jail, that’s $225.
- Assessment and classes. You’ll need to pay $200 to $500 for alcohol assessment and treatment.
- Ignition interlock. If you are required to have the device (as you probably will be because Arizona mandates them for all DUI offenses)
- Insurance. This is the big one that you won’t see coming. After a DUI you could be required to purchase SR-22 insurance. Generally that’s around $3,000 per year for 3 years. In any case your insurance rates will go up after a drunk driving conviction.
- The rest. There are other costs that are hard to quantify, but can add up to a lot of money. A DUI could affect your job prospects, and also affect your ability to get a mortgage or other bank loan, which in turn could influence where you end up living.
The Arizona DUI cost equals all the consequences of one bad decision — the decision to drink and drive in a state that is serious about making roads safer. If you plan your ride home before you go out, you’ll be spared a blow that could leave your finances reeling — and you crying — for years.
