We've all heard it over and over again: Drunk driving. It's a massive problem, and it kills someone in the U.S. every 39 minutes. It needs to be stopped, but are governments' efforts to cut it down or stop it all together working? Or is it all just one big profit machine?
I propose the latter. DUIs are big business in this country, and lots of people are getting rich, profiting off of someone else's mistake.
According the the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there are about 1.4 million drunk-driving arrests each year--that's approximately one in every 135 licensed drivers.
Punishment varies from state to state, but all are severe. And every time someone gets popped for a DUI, a lot of other people make money.
So just who is getting rich from this politically incorrect crime that is plaguing our nation?
Governments
Fines for drunk driving are severe, and each case can generate fines for the driver involved. According to Online Lawyer Source, DUI fines vary depending on circumstances and jurisdiction. In most states, the fine ranges from $500 to $1,000 for a first offense, and can go as high as $15,000 for those with a prior conviction. This money goes directly into the coffers of cities, counties, and states. Online Lawyer Source says that DUI fines are “the only fines (regularly) imposed on a convict by the Criminal Justice System.”
Therefore, it is highly profitable for police agencies to make drunk-driving arrests.Attorneys
If you get arrested, you'll need a lawyer. Lawyers cost a lot of money. They advertise on the internet, billboards, TV, radio, phone books, and anywhere else they can get their name out. Attorney fees are as varied as the much-reviled counselors themselves, but suffice it to say that if you get a DUI, it will cost you thousands in legal fees.
Insurance companies
If you get a DUI, it will affect your insurance rates. In order to drive again (after an initial license suspension), most states require a convicted drunk driver to register with the Department of Motor Vehicles that they have acquired what is known as SR-22 insurance. In many states, this proof of insurance filing stays in effect for anywhere from three to five years after a DUI conviction.
According to Insurance.com, an SR-22 filing can increase vehicle insurance premiums from 2 to 3 times the rate you were paying prior to the conviction, and “no laws regulate the premiums charged.” Meaning, if you want to drive, you must have insurance, and the insurance company can and will charge outrageous rates at this point.
There are a few states that don't require SR-22 insurance after a conviction, but if you move there from another state, you must continue to meet the requirements of the state where the offense was committed, according to Insurance.com. Two states (New York and North Carolina) currently don't require SR-22s at all.
And, as if to stick you even further, sometimes a DUI can even affect your life insurance rates.“Alcohol School”
Once you get a DUI, you will most likely be required by the Court to get an alcohol evaluation, which usually is conducted by a private organization. There are now hundreds of these places all over the country. They will charge you a fee to “evaluate” your alcohol use, then recommend to the court whether or not you need to enroll in alcohol treatment. More likely than not, the recommendation will be that the violator enroll in an alcohol program, which will then be mandated by the Court.
These programs vary in length and scope; some are simply once-a-week classes, others are more intense. Some programs will run for a year, others for three years or more. All of these programs must be paid for out of the pocket of the DUI offender, and some can run into the thousands of dollars. The program must be completed to satisfy any Court obligations, and if the offender isn't able to pay for the program, he or she is refused service and then is held in Contempt of Court for violating the condition.Ignition Interlock
Most states also now require an ignition interlock for those convicted of drunk driving. This is a device that is attached to the user's vehicle. Before the car will start, the driver must blow into the device, which measures alcohol content on the breath. If any is detected, the vehicle will not start. This is designed to prevent any further drunk-driving incidents by the owner of that vehicle.
These devices require installation, which usually costs money, plus monthly monitoring, for which the user also must pay. This rather new addition to the drunk-driving laws has spawned an entire cottage industry on the Internet. Many ignition interlock manufacturers now advertise on the Internet, some even boasting competitive rates.Non-profit organizations
I know I said non-profit, but many organizations are getting rich riding the DUI bandwagon. Case in point: Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), which has become famous in its crusade against drunk driving. According to its website, MADD's net assets for 2006 (the most recent posting available) were more than $25 million dollars, and it boasted revenues of $51 million. There are other organizations riding this wave as well.Shysters
Look up DUI or anything similar on the Internet and you'll get thousands of listings. Some of these are for companies that claim to “clear your record” if you've gotten a DUI. And yes, once again, these services are not free.
There's only one way to keep all these entities from getting richer: Don't drink and drive. Save yourself the humiliation, the spot on your record, and the possibility that you could get killed or kill someone else. Mostly, save yourself the money. Don't let all these other people profit from your stupidity!
All in all, there's huge profits to be made in them-thar DUIs. Let's be sure to keep 'em coming!
