A DWI conviction can cost you a lot of money, which is another reason to do everything possible to avoid conviction or as many of the consequences as possible. The criminal penalties are a large part of the consequences, but the financial impact can be rather hash.
In order to avoid as many penalties as possible, including the costs, it is a must to have an experienced Minneapolis DWI attorney to assist you in your defense. It is a must to work with an attorney who has experience working in the different county courts. Each one is different in its own way. For instance, Hennepin County DWI court is going to be much different than Anoka County DWI court. The costs, however, remain the same.
Below are examples of some of the costs associated with a DWI conviction:
- A first-time offender can see a fine of at least $1,000 imposed
- The license reinstatement fee after suspension is $250
- The license reinstatement surcharge is $430
- A driver’s license application fee is charged in addition to the reinstatement fee and surcharge
The actual amount of the fine is going to depend on the charge. A first-time offender is charged with a misdemeanor as long as there are no aggravating factors present. The fine is going to be lower than someone who has offended multiple times. The multiple DWI offender will also serve more time in jail. It is possible for a first-time offender to serve up to 90 days in jail.
The costs can go much deeper than this. If you have a DWI on your record, you risk losing your job or having difficulty finding a job with higher earning potential. In other words, DWI can have an impact on your income, as there are some employers that do not want their employees to have any marks on their criminal records. Others require a clean driving record.
If you are arrested for DWI, the best thing to do is not admit any kind of guilt. Call your attorney first in order to get the advice that you need. That way you do not accidentally say or do the wrong thing or say something that could be misconstrued as the wrong thing. You also don’t want to plead guilty to the charges in hopes that the guilty plea will make them go away. The reason is because, while it is possible for you to avoid certain costs, it could be possible for you to avoid conviction anyway and that means avoiding all of the financial penalties.
You and your attorney will work together to create a defense strategy that is meant to get the best possible result. There are times when the charge can be reduced to a “wet reckless” charge and this means not having a DWI on your record. This will give you a better chance than pleading guilty. Employers may also be more likely to hire someone with a wet reckless on their record than misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor or felony DWI.
