L’Observateur / November 24, 2000

In terms of cold, hard cash, getting convicted of driving while intoxicated in Louisiana could be one of the costliest mistakes you make.

A person convicted of first-offense DWI could pay $1,000 to $2,000 or even more for a variety of charges that include fines, court costs, driver’s license reinstatement, legal fees and increased insurance premiums. The dollarcosts increase sharply for second, third and fourth DWI convictions.

“Few of the people who chose to drive while intoxicated are aware of the risks and costs – both in terms of safety and dollars – that they face,” said Col. James Champagne, executive director of the Louisiana Highway SafetyCommission. “You’re talking about a major expenditure of dollars if you’reconvicted. Of course, if you injure or kill somebody while driving under theinfluence, your potential civil liabilities are unlimited.”Champagne’s agency is spearheading the “You Drink and Drive, You Lose,” campaign – a $1 million, federally-funded program aimed at reducing Louisiana’s above-average DWI rate. Louisiana has the eighth highestpercentage of alcohol-related fatalities in the nation. In 1998, 46 percent ofall traffic fatalities in Louisiana involved alcohol or other drug use, compared to the national rate of 38 percent.

The campaign includes stepped-up DWI police patrols, specialized DWI training for police, special DWI equipment for numerous law enforcement agencies, use of sobriety checkpoints and public information. A key goal of theprogram is to increase conviction rates for persons ticketed with DWI offenses. Officials hope to boost conviction rates through advanced trainingof police and sheriffs’ deputies on DWI detection and arrest procedures.

Another element involves video cameras installed in some State Police vehicles to record DWI arrests. A video tape of a drunk driver taking a fieldsobriety test is powerful evidence in court.

State Police and local law enforcement agencies are reviving sobriety checkpoints, which had been prohibited in the state until a recent Louisiana Supreme Court ruling lifted the ban. State Police have already conductedseveral sobriety checkpoints, and Champagne’s agency is training local law enforcement agencies on proper checkpoint procedures.

“A driver who gets cited for DWI will have to spend money even before he or she goes to court,” Champagne said. “A conviction greatly increases thosecosts, even if it’s a first offense.”Insurance is the wildcard of increased rates for drivers with a DWI conviction. Some of the major automobile insurers, who tend to providelower rates, will not renew policies for persons with a recent DWI conviction.

That can force the driver to buy insurance from another company that accepts higher risk drivers, but will also charge higher rates. Insurancecosts could jump from about $150 a year to many times that amount, depending on the amount of coverage purchased and other circumstances.

Potential costs of a first-offense DWI conviction include $300 to $1,000 fine; $100 license reinstatement fee; $75 other administrative fees; $500- $3,000 legal fees; $150 towing, impoundment, driver education course, etc.;and 10 percent minimum increase in insurance premium.

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