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Can You Afford an OVI Conviction?
By Jon J. Saia (Adams County, Allen County, Ashland County, Ashtabula County, Athens County, Auglaize County, Belmont County, Brown County, Butler County, Carroll County, Champaign County, Clark County, Clermont County, Clinton County, Columbiana County, Coshocton County, Crawford County, Cuyahoga County, Darke County, Defiance County, Erie County, Franklin County, Fulton County, Gallia County, Geauga County, Guernsey County, Hamilton County, Hancock County, Hardin County, Harrison County, Henry County, Highland County, Hocking County, Holmes County, Huron County, Jackson County, Jefferson County, Lake County, Lawrence County, Logan County, Lorain County, Lucas County, Madison County, Mahoning County, Medina County, Meigs County, Mercer County, Miami County, Monroe County, Morgan County, Muskingum County, Noble County, Ottawa County, Paulding County, Perry County, Pike County, Portage County, Preble County, Putnam County, Richland County, Ross County, Sandusky County, Scioto County, Seneca County, Stark County, Summit County, Trumbull County, Tuscarawas County, Union County, Van Wert County, Vinton County, Warren County, Washington County, Wayne County, Williams County, Wood County, Wyandot County)
Being charged with an OVI can be rather costly. However, you may not be able to afford an OVI conviction. If you are charged with an OVI, the first cost you will incur is the posting of bail. Bail is usually a standard fee of approximately $75 however, depending on the circumstances, may be as high as $2,500 or more. Bail generally has to be posted before you are released from jail.
Upon arrest, your car will most likely be towed and stored at an impound lot. Towing and storage fees usually exceed $100. To add insult to injury, it will take three people to retrieve your car – a licensed driver must drive you and another licensed driver to the impound lot. Remember, your driving privileges will have been suspended.
Legal representation may be as little as $500 if you go to court and plead guilty immediately. With so much at stake, this is rarely advisable. Defending an OVI charge is quite complex and difficult. A well-qualified attorney will cost between $3,500 and $10,000. Expert witnesses, if required, will cost between $600 and $2,500.
Although being charged with an OVI is costly, being convicted of an OVI is something many can no longer afford.
The court costs and fines imposed range from $250 to $2,500. A Driver Intervention Program will cost between $350 and $500. Your license reinstatement fee will be $425. Attendance at a Victim Impact Program will be $15. Probation costs are $20 to $150. Should an automobile interlock device or SCRAM (alcohol monitoring) bracelet be required, plan on spending another $500 to $1,500.
Although the typical costs directly related to an OVI conviction appear to be drastic, it is the indirect costs that will really affect your pocket book.
If you hold a CDL, your job will probably be lost. If you are employed within a profession that requires licensure, you may suffer disciplinary consequences. If in school, licensure may be delayed or denied. Some colleges will suspend you for some duration of time.
Automobile insurance costs will certainly increase and may be terminated. High risk insurance may be required. Public transportation may be necessary for some period of time.
Drug and alcohol assessments are rarely covered by insurance. Counseling can be rather expensive whether or not insurance coverage is in place.
Finally, there are the intangible costs. Being convicted of an OVI has long term consequences that you probably have never considered. A tremendous strain will be placed on relationships. Reliance on spouses and friends for rides becomes burdensome. Restrictions on travel to foreign countries. The embarrassment of having special red and yellow license plates.
Certainly, a taxi ride is less costly for you and your loved ones. Don’t drink and drive.
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