When you get a DUI, you may find that you are hit with some unexpected consequences. We don’t usually think before we get behind the wheel after a few drinks, and this decision can lead to several changes in not just your immediate future, but longer term as well. While there are plenty of reasons that you should not drive after you’ve been drinking, we thought it would be a good idea to list all of the ways that a DUI can impact your life and your vehicle, just in case you needed some more convincing.
First, there are the DUI penalties that come directly from the criminal justice system. Depending on where you live, whether or not this is your first offense, and whether or not you caused any damages, your punishment for getting a DUI will vary. You could just have to pay a fine, or you could be sentenced to community service, house arrest, lose your license, or jail time. The severity of your DUI arrest will determine how bad the punishment is, but no matter how minor, you can expect to not get off free. If your DUI is bad enough, you are probably going to need to hire a DUI lawyer, in which case you’ll also need to pay legal fees and court fees, on top of whatever your punishment is. These fees add up quickly, and your one night of drinking and driving can quickly turn into a large expense.
Besides the direct punishment from the legal system, there are some other side effects to getting a DUI. If you lose your license, you are going to need to find a way to get around. This means either begging friends and family to drive you, or paying someone else to do it. This incident will also be recorded on your criminal record, and it will show up whenever you go to apply for a job. Some companies will not hire people if they have a criminal record, so you could be making it harder on yourself to get a job in the future. Lastly, if you were in an accident, and there were any damages or injuries sustained as a result of you driving intoxicated, you’ll need to find a way to pay these off. These bills can be quite large, and will significantly impact your previous lifestyle.
Lastly, getting a DUI will also have an impact on your vehicle. Driving drunk is very dangerous, and it is likely to cause an accident. If this happens, you will have to pay to have all of the damage fixed on your car, as well as any other vehicles you may have hit. On top of this, you can also expect your insurance rates to go up, so you will be paying more for your auto insurance each month. All of these expenses are going to add up very quickly, and if you’re lucky, you won’t find yourself in too much debt.
As you can see, there are some serious consequences that can occur as the result of a DUI. Your best bet is to avoid them all by simply not driving after you have been drinking. There are many alternatives these days, such as asking a friend for a ride, or using an app like Uber to drive you home. Plan how you are going to get home before you start drinking, and if you think there is a chance you might be drunk, don’t risk it by getting behind the wheel. These are simple ideas, but they can save you, and everyone else on the road, a lot of trouble by heeding them.
