Drunken driving is expensive--A DUI conviction can cost up to $20,000, a new report finds

BY CARLOS SANTOS
RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER Dec 30, 2003 

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CHARLOTTESVILLE - A person convicted of driving under the influence can expect to pay between $5,000 to $20,000 in related costs, according to a report released yesterday by a criminal justice expert in Charlottesville.

Thomas von Hemert of the Thomas Jefferson Area Community Criminal Justice Board said the figures he compiled "were a reality check before you get behind the wheel. . . . It sobered me up."

"Unless you have been convicted of a DUI, you don't realize or comprehend the immense costs in time and money," said von Hemert, the criminal-justice planner for the board. "A six-pack of beer might cost you a few dollars, but it might really cost you $5,000 to $20,000."

The total costs vary, depending on the individual incident and the offender's driving record.

In 2001, 28,044 people were convicted of DUI in Virginia. Of that total, 84 percent were male, said von Hemert, citing figures from the state Department of Motor Vehicles. About one-third are repeat offenders.

He used a variety of sources, from the Charlottesville commonwealth's attorney's office to the state's Alcohol Safety Action Program (ASAP), to compile the cost of a DUI conviction.

His final figures included costs such as posting bail, towing the car, fines and court costs, DMV fees for obtaining a restricted license and the cost of attending ASAP classes.

The biggest costs from a DUI conviction are associated with hiring an attorney, which could run as high as $4,000, and increases in insurance premiums, which could jump by $2,000 a year, he estimated.

"The costs are staggering and we're not even talking about the damage to cars, property or people," von Hemert said.

He said the time involved in dealing with a DUI convictions can also be enormous, ranging from a bare minimum of 40 hours to up to one year in jail, again depending on the incident.

For example, the ASAP, which is required for those convicted of DUI, requires attending alcohol education courses for 20 hours, usually over 10 weeks, said David Dutcher, the executive director of the James River ASAP, which oversees the Charlottesville region.

Dutcher said ASAP attendance has grown to about 1,500 people this past fiscal year, compared with 644 in 1994, though the increase could be attributable to an increase in population in the area.

"But the trend to me seems to be an increase in drinking and driving," Dutcher said.

In Virginia, operating a motor vehicle with a blood-alcohol content of 0.08 percent or higher is considered to be driving under the influence, according to the DMV. A motorist whose driving is impaired can be convicted of driving under the influence with a blood-alcohol content lower than 0.08 percent.

A DUI conviction not only costs money, it can also be demeaning. ASAP attendees must be willing to undergo a breathalyzer test before class. The test is administered randomly.

"You would be amazed at the number of people who have shown up to class under the influence," Dutcher said. "We send them to a substance-abuse program."

Sgt. Ronnie Roberts, who handles the traffic division for the Charlottesville Police Department, said "no amount of money can make up for the victims who lose their lives or are severely injured. . . . A lot of people's lives are impacted by drunken drivers, not just on the financial side."

Last year in Virginia, 371 people were killed in crashes involving alcohol. That's about 41 percent of the 914 people killed in all traffic crashes, according to von Hemert, citing statistics from Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

"If it's alcohol-related, there's the criminal side and the tort side . . . that stuff goes on for years," Roberts said. "You can lose your license. You can spend time in jail. You pay court costs. You spend time in education classes. . . . It all comes down to the decisions you make."


Contact Carlos Santos at (434) 295-9542 or csantos@timesdispatch.com