Fines for Driving Under the Influence in Oklahoma
In addition to possible jail time, drivers convicted of driving under the influence in Oklahoma face substantial fines. The fines vary depending on which crime a driver is sentenced with, and there are additional costs as well.
If a driver has no prior DUIs on his record, he can expect that the court will require him to pay up to $1,000 in fines. Drivers with prior DUIs pay increasingly larger fines. The amount of the fines vary based on which court hears your case. The rules differ in municipal court and state court in Oklahoma. In state court, every driver who pleads guilty to DUI also must pay a Victim Compensation Assessment, which costs somewhere from $30 to $10,000 depending on the sentence.
Sometimes, people convicted of DUI have to pay restitution to victims. When a driver under the influence gets into an accident and injures others, the court may include restitution in the sentence. This means the driver has to make payments to compensate the victims.
In addition to criminal fines and restitution, some people are sentenced to attend an alcohol education program, an ADSAC course, or a DUI course. Some have to install breathalyzers on their vehicles. All of these items cost money. Cost of the courses depends on how many hours the driver has to attend. Sometimes drivers have to attend a Victim Impact Panel, which comes with a cost of about $50.
Often courts charge defendants a substantial amount of court costs if their cases move towards trial. Most courts charge for probation services, which could total as much as $80 a month for up to 2 years. In addition, the Department of Public Safety may charge a license reinstatement fee and you will need to obtain a special type of insurance policy. You will have to pay an impound fee to get your car back from the police lot.
A DUI could cost a driver thousands of dollars in fines and costs alone, not to mention possible jail time and the consequences of losing a driver’s license. A qualified DUI attorney can help you work to keep costs low.
To learn more about sentencing in DUI cases, seek out the DUI attorney with insider knowledge. Clint Patterson, Esq., of Patterson Law Firm, a former Tulsa prosecutor now using his experience to defend drivers, has the experience and the insight to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of your case. To schedule a case evaluation, visit Patterson Law Firm online or call Clint’s office at (918) 550-9175.