How much does a DUI cost in Oregon?

How much does a DUI cost in Oregon?

You’ve probably seen the multi-million-dollar marketing campaigns by NHTSA and ODOT attempting to scare you into avoiding a DUI.  Well, unlike many of their campaign slogans and themes– which are just shy of the ridiculous propaganda exploitation film Reefer Madness— their warnings about the cost of a DUI aren’t far off the mark.

Many people charged with DUI want to know how much it’s going to cost them. A figure often thrown around is $10,000.00. In other words, a DUI will cost you $10,000. But this is typically an exaggerated number in Oregon for a first offense.

DUI charges still expensive to deal with. Most drivers don’t realize that it’s not one large expense, but rather a series of small expenses that add up and make the overall DUI very expensive.

Cost of a DUI Diversion in Oregon

Most people charged with DUI in Oregon will be eligible for the DUII Diversion Program, and they will likely take that option. If the DUII Diversion Program is successfully completed, there will be no conviction, no fine imposed (which can typically vary from $1,000-2,000), and the length of time an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) will need to be installed will be shorter than in the event of a DUI conviction.

Oregon DUII Diversion Expenses

  • Diversion fee: $500.00
  • Evaluation fee: $150.00
  • Victim Impact Panel fee: $40.00 – $50.00
  • Drug and alcohol education (as opposed to treatment): $500.00 – $750.00
  • SR-22 insurance and hardship application: $200.00
  • Ignition Interlock Device (IID) for one year: $900.00
  • Legal fees: $2,000.00+

Total Costs for DUI Diversion In Oregon

As you can see above, the total costs for a DUI Diversion in Oregon vary quite a bit, but the list of expenses above does not include related expenses like tow or impound fees (if your car was impounded by the police), missed days or time at work (due to court appearances), bus or cab fare (for when you can’t drive), or other collateral violations which may come along with the DUI.

If you have been arrested or cited for DUI in Oregon, contact a DUI defense attorney for an initial consultation even if you are diversion-eligible. Many drivers are cautious about hiring an attorney because they are worried about the legal expense. But a good DUI attorney can help you avoid or minimize some expenses, and save you time and money in the long run. If you lose your driving privileges or your diversion is revoked, you will not have saved any time or money by attempting to go it alone.

How much does a first-time DUI conviction cost in Oregon?

If you’ve already had a DUI Diversion, or if for some reason you are ineligible for Oregon’s DUI Diversion Program, then you’ll be facing the prospect of a DUI conviction. The actual fines, fees, assessments, and legal expenses for a first DUI conviction vary, but here are some approximate figures:

  • Conviction fines, fees, and assessments: $1,400.00
  • Evaluation fee: $150.00
  • Victim Impact Panel fee: $40.00 – $50.00
  • Drug and alcohol treatment: $2,000.00 – $3,000.00
  • SR-22 insurance and hardship application: $200.00
  • Ignition Interlock Device (IID) (typically $75/mo. for 24 months): $1,800
  • Legal fees: $3,000.00 – $5,000.00

How much does a second DUI within five years cost in Oregon?

Oregon has a statute which makes the penalties for two DUI charges within a five-year timeframe much more serious. The actual fines, fees, assessments, and legal expenses vary, but here are some approximate figures:

  • Conviction fines, fees, and assessments: $3,000.00
  • Evaluation fee: $150.00
  • Victim Impact Panel fee: $40.00 – $50.00
  • Drug and alcohol treatment: $2,000.00 – $3,000.00
  • SR-22 insurance and hardship application: $200.00
  • Interlock Ignition Device for five years: $4,500.00
  • Legal fees: $5,000.00 – $10,000.00

How much does a third DUI cost in Oregon?

Once a driver has two DUI convictions, things get much more serious. A third DUI conviction results in a lifetime driver’s license revocation. Depending on the timing of the prior DUI convictions, the driver could also be facing a felony DUI. The seriousness of a third conviction means it is much more likely that a driver will want to have a very thorough DMV Implied Consent Hearing, possibly a motion to suppress, and a jury trial. The actual fines, fees, assessments, and legal expenses for defending a third DUI vary, but here are some approximate figures:

  • Conviction fines, fees, and assessments: $3,000.00
  • Evaluation fee: $150.00
  • Victim Impact Panel fee: $40.00 – $50.00
  • Drug and alcohol treatment: $2,000.00 – $3,000.00
  • SR-22 insurance and hardship application: NA – License will be revoked for life
  • Interlock Ignition Device: NA – License will be revoked for life
  • Legal fees: $15,000.00+

Note that DUI fines in Oregon vary according to prior DUI history and the BAC level, and fines can also increase if there is a child passenger. The maximum penalty for a Class A misdemeanor in Oregon is $6,250 per ORS 161.635, however, the Court can impose up to a $10,000 fine for a DUI with a passenger in the motor vehicle who was under 18 years of age and was at least three years younger than the person driving the motor vehicle.

A DUI conviction can be expensive. Before you plead guilty, speak with a DUI attorney. Know your rights, and understand your options.

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