Big business in San Jose: DUI, what will it cost you?

My best friend slides into the car beside me because he's barely able to walk. After a night on the town, he has had a few too many and I was anxious to get him home. He had embarrassed me one too many times, first when he got kicked out of the club for looking up skirts and second, just a few minutes ago, when he laid himself down in the middle of the street. I had to console him enough to move before he was hit by a car. I was fed up and ready to go home. I gently pull out of the parking lot and make a right. Two seconds later I see red and blue flashing lights and I am being pulled over for forgetting to turn my lights on. In my defense, It was bright in the parking lot. That night, after only two drinks, I blew a 1.0 and was charged with a DUI. My friend, James, received a drunken in public and we were both taken straight to jail. This can happen to anyone who has had a drink before driving.


Having just went through the painful experience of a DUI, I would like to share the intricacies of what I have learned. Not only is driving under the influence deathly dangerous, it is very costly these days and It is big business in San Jose.


Rodney Stark of NTSI, the largest DUI school in downtown San Jose estimates that 31,390 people were enrolled for DUI classes last year, spread out between five schools. “Of course, there are many more people who get arrested but never enroll for classes”, Rodney says. Even though it is a mandatory part of sentencing in the DUI program. Here is a break down of what you can expect if you find yourself faced with a DUI here in San Jose, although every case is a bit different.

1. Car Towing and impound charges: up to $300 a day or more.
2. A trip to the jail with bond: 5%-20% of a 3,000 bond paid to the bondsman.
3. A good lawyer: 5,000-10,000
4. Time off work to spend in court, week-end work program or jail plus the cost of a babysitter or nanny if kids are involved: 1,000's
5. Fine $1,700+
A. Week-end work program: $35.00 a day; First offenders six to nine days.
B.. Three DUI's within ten years or positive narcotics test: 90 days in jail.
6. DUI classes for first offenders: $500.00, classes are once a week for three to four months long.
7. SR22: Depending on your insurance company but your rates will go up.
8. DMV reinstatement fee: $140.00
9. Emotional and time costs: priceless


As you can see, getting a DUI is costly in San Jose. If you plan on drinking, you should plan on getting a cab or a designated driver. Otherwise, you will probably get caught and become a DUI statistic with loss of time, money, and emotional sanity. Please know that taking a friends keys before they plan to drive drunk is considered the right thing to do. Please don't drink and drive.