It’s New Year’s Eve. 2012 draws to an end tonight and tomorrow a New Year dawns. Your outfit’s picked out and reservations are made for dinner and the after dinner party. Or maybe you’re going with a group of friends to a club. Or maybe you’re hosting the party at your house. Champagne is chilled and hors d’oeuvres are ready! So what’s to worry? Plenty if you drink too much and get a DUI.
Depending on whose numbers you want to use, the cost for that one drink that puts you over the legal limit runs between $10,000 and $20,000. This is made up of bail, fines, legal fees and increased insurance costs. The impact on you and your insurance is;
- On average you’ll pay an additional cost between $1,000 and $1,500.
- In Texas, that cost applies for 5 years from your conviction between and works out to between $5,000 and $7,500.
- You also run the risks of being cancelled mid-term or non-renewed at the end of the current policy period. This limits who will write you & increases what you’ll pay.
- Other factors will also come into play;
- Were you involved in an accident (if so, the premium jumps again)
- Did you hurt someone (another jump & it can be horrible if you’re sued)
Get a second offense and the numbers go up even more.
While most of us don’t think this will ever happen to us, here are three things you can do to make that doesn’t happen!
- Have a designated driver – I’ve been one and you can still be the life of the party and have a great time!
- Take a cab – many Dallas & D/FW area cab companies run low cost specials just to encourage this.
- If someone’s had too much, let them spend the night or stay at the hotel near where you’re dancing the night away.
The real key is for you to arrive alive without drinking and driving. A DUI costs enough in dollars and cents. The emotional strain can be a whole lot worse. What have you done to have a good time and get home safely? Share it on our Facebook page or on our comments section.
