Driving under the influence is a common offense in the United States, and it’s a legal charge that can lead to tens of thousands of dollars in fines and fees.
After DUI arrests, many offenders find themselves subject to harsh financial penalties. Many people arrested for DUI are curious how much the total bail amount will be. The exact bail amount varies, however, the average bail for DUI is higher than many other common crimes because of how dangerous drinking and driving is to yourself and others on the road.
DUI Categories
In the United States, anybody caught driving while intoxicated can be subject to a DUI arrest. The limit for blood alcohol content is .08% in every state & the District of Columbia, except for Utah which has a limit of .05%.
DUI convictions can be classified into multiple categories that refer to operating or driving a motor vehicle under the influence of some substance, usually alcohol. These categories include:
- DUI – Driving Under the Influence.
- DWI – Driving While Intoxicated.
- OWI – Operating While Intoxicated.
DUI Bond Cost
The cost of a DUI offense depends on a variety of factors. For a DUI misdemeanor, the total bail amount is usually in the range of $500 to $1,000, while a DUI felony can see bail amounts of $50,000 & higher. The total bail amount for a second DUI is often in the range of $10,000, and the cost continues to rise in relation to the number of DUI offenses an offender commits. Double, triple, or even quadruple DUI offenses can result in the offender being charged with a felony which can lead to very high total bail amounts.
Additional Costs of a DUI
Besides the total bail amount, a DUI case can include a lot of additional costs like:
- Towing and impoundment – you will be required to pay a fee to get your car towed and out of the impound lot if there’s no sober passenger to drive the vehicle home. The cost of towing and impoundment ranges depending on where you live, but is commonly in the range of $100 to $1,000.
- Some states require DUI offenders to undergo alcohol treatment and substance abuse evaluations. In addition to these evaluations, you might be required to install an ignition interlock device in your motor vehicle. An ignition interlock device will stop your car from starting if you have been drinking.
- Driver responsibility fees – some states have enacted fees that range from $1,000 to $2,500 that are paid to the state when an individual is convicted of a DUI offense.
- License reinstatement fees – There is a fee associated with reinstating a driver’s license after it has been suspended. The amount of this fee varies depending on the state you reside in.
How to Calculate the Bond
Every bail for DUI is different because a judge looks at a variety of contributing factors like the severity of the crime, the presence of another person in the vehicle, and whether injuries were involved. Although it is not possible for us to tell you what your total bail amount will be, we can help you determine the fee you’ll need to pay a bail bondsman to post bond on your behalf.
Our easy-to-use DUI bail bond calculator will help you determine the bond fee that you’ll need to pay a bail bondsman if you want to use their services to be released from jail while you await trial.
If you or someone you know has been arrested for driving under the influence, contact a bail bondsman to post bond on your behalf. A local, reputable bail bond agent will post bond on your behalf in exchange for a nonrefundable fee that is equal to 10% of the total bail amount.
Additionally, consider hiring a DUI attorney to help create a legal strategy that will help you navigate your next steps.