The True Cost of an OWI: Fines, Expenses, and Long-Term Repercussions
One of the penalties for a first offense operating while intoxicated (OWI) conviction includes a fine of up to $300. Yet fines themselves do not tell the whole story about the overall cost of an OWI/DUI. There are plenty of administrative fees, court fees, and related expenses that could set you back thousands of dollars. An OWI/DUI arrest could also affect your livelihood and career prospects.
Let’s look at the fines, additional expenses, and hidden costs of an OWI/DUI charge. When you see these numbers and their long-term impact, you’ll understand why hiring an experienced Wisconsin OWI/DUI defense specialist is a worthwhile investment for your future.
Vehicle Impound Fees and Bail
Retrieving your impounded vehicle following an OWI/DUI arrest will cost money. The amount will vary based on where you were stopped and the location of the vehicle, but you will inevitably have to pay daily storage charges on top of an initial towing fee. This could amount to hundreds of dollars in additional expenses.
As for bail, the judge will set an amount based on the circumstances of your arrest. If you’re facing felony drunk driving charges, your bail could be thousands of dollars.
Legal Fines for an OWI/DUI
The fines for an OWI/DUI vary depending on the severity of the charge.
- First Offense OWI: $150-$300
- Second Offense OWI with a Previous OWI within 10 Years: $350-$1,1100
- Third Offense OWI: $600-$2,000
- Fourth Offense OWI: $600-$10,000
- Causing Injury by OWI with No Prior Convictions: Up to $10,000
- Fifth-Ninth Offense OWI: Up to $25,000
- Causing Great Bodily Harm by OWI: Up to $25,000
- Tenth or Greater OWI: Up to $50,000
- Homicide by OWI: Up to $100,000
Additional Fines and Surcharges
Many of the above fines increase if you have a passenger in your vehicle under 16 years old. For example, a first offense OWI/DUI with a minor passenger incurs a fine of $350-$1,100. That is more than double the amount for a regular first offense OWI/DUI.
The state of Wisconsin adds a driver improvement surcharge of $535 to all of the OWI/DUI fines above.
You have an opportunity to avoid these fines, surcharges, and other penalties. Get a free consultation with the board-certified OWI/DUI experts at Mishlove & Stuckert today.
Wisconsin DMV/DOT Costs for an Occupational License
If you want an occupational license to get to school and work, you will need to apply for one. The application fee itself costs $50.
You will need to pay additional money to prepare materials for your occupational license application, such as providing a driver safety plan from an Intoxicated Driver Program (IDP) assessment.
The Cost of an IDP Assessment
An IDP assessment is an interview with an IDP assessor from an authorized facility. The assessor will ask about your history with drugs and alcohol in order to develop a driver safety plan.
The cost of an OWI/DUI assessment varies based on your county. They can range from $165 to over $350.
In addition to the assessment fees, you may be charged additional fees for failing to make an appointment, rescheduling an appointment, requesting an out-of-state assessment, and transferring paperwork.
The Cost of Completing a Driver Safety Plan
The driver safety plan developed by your IDP assessor will provide you with education or rehabilitation programs you are required to attend. This could mean enrolling in traffic school or seeking inpatient or outpatient counseling for substance abuse.
You will have to shoulder the cost of these classes and programs yourself on top of your other fines, fees, and surcharges. This can mean hundreds of dollars or thousands of dollars depending on what your safety plan stipulates.
The Cost of an Ignition Interlock Device
After an OWI/DUI arrest, you may be required to install an ignition interlock device (IID). This car breathalyzer requires you to pass a BAC test before the vehicle can start.
The cost of installing an IID can range from $50 to $150, sometimes more. But the costs don’t end there. You will also be charged a monthly leasing fee for the IID, which usually costs $60 to $80. On top of that, you need to pay for periodic calibration of the IID and the removal of the IID when the time comes. Depending on how long you're required to have an IID, that's hundreds if not thousands more in expenses.
You can potentially avoid these financial hardships and countless headaches by speaking with Wisconsin’s only accredited OWI/DUI defense specialists. Our drunk driving defense experts are ready to help you.
Increases in Your Insurance Premiums
A first offense OWI/DUI in Wisconsin will result in 6 demerit points on your driving record. Multiple points on your driving record can increase your insurance premiums.
In addition to points, you will need to contact your insurance provider for an SR-22 certificate following an OWI/DUI if you want to apply for an occupational license. You will need to have an SR-22 for a minimum of three years.
An SR-22 alone can increase your annual premiums by thousands of dollars.
Issues With Scholarships and Financial Aid
If you are a student charged with an OWI/DUI or underage drinking and driving, a conviction could affect your eligibility for financial assistance or certain scholarships. This could lead to thousands of dollars in education expenses you now have to shoulder that would have been covered by other means.
Effects on Your Career and Employment
An OWI/DUI charge on your criminal record could prevent you from getting hired for certain jobs, which affects your long-term earnings in your field.
If you earn a living with a commercial driver’s license (CDL), you’ll face major career and income setbacks. You may even be forced to change careers.
For a first offense OWI/DUI, you will have your CDL disqualified for 1 year; if you were hauling hazardous materials at the time of the OWI/DUI, the CDL disqualification is increased to 3 years. A felony OWI/DUI offense or a second OWI/DUI offense will result in a lifetime disqualification of your CDL.
The Cost of Potential Civil Litigation
Finally, if your drunk driving incident resulted in property damage or injuries, you may be named in a civil lawsuit. A personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit involves separate legal expenses, and if the civil trial verdict favors the plaintiff, you could owe tens of thousands of dollars in damages.
Contact Our Board-Certified OWI/DUI Defense Specialists
An initial fine of $300 could wind up being thousands more following a conviction. Hiring a qualified defense lawyer can help you avoid numerous financial setbacks.
To request a free case review with Wisconsin’s only board-certified OWI/DUI defense experts, contact Mishlove & Stuckert today. We have offices in Milwaukee, Oshkosh, Waukesha, and West Bend.
About Andrew Mishlove
A board-certified OWI defense specialist, Andrew Mishlove has practiced law in Wisconsin since 1981. He is a nationally recognized figure when it comes to drunk and intoxicated driving defense. Mr. Mishlove is the author of Wisconsin OWI Defense: The Law and Practice and is on the Board of Regents of the National College for DUI Defense (NCDD).