The Hidden Costs of a DWI Arrest (Part 4 of 4) | KGT Law

This blog is the final installment of a four-part series on the hidden costs of a DWI arrest. Up until this point we have examined pre-conviction consequences like challenging the suspension or revocation of your driver’s license or defending against a civil forfeiture action, paying your car note, auto insurance premiums, medical bills, court costs, fees, and fines, and posting bail or bond. This next piece will discuss losing your job and post-conviction considerations like fees and costs, probation, and expunction of your criminal record.

Financial Consequence No. 8: Losing Your Job

At any point after your DWI arrest you may lose your job. If driving is a basic function of your job, like a school bus driver or truck driver, and your driver’s license gets suspended or revoked, your employment may be terminated immediately following your arrest. You may not be eligible for unemployment insurance compensation because the termination is considered your own fault. Even if you hold on to your job, you will be expected to take time off to attend court, meet with your probation officer, or attend programs and classes as a condition of sentence. Your employer may not be flexible in accommodating your time off requests or you may not have any time off at work to use to resolve your DWI arrest.

Financial Consequence No. 9: Paying for Post-Conviction Fees and Programs

If a condition of your sentence is probation, you will have to pay annual supervision fees to the probation department. Many times post-conviction you will be required to attend alcohol education classes, which require you pay a fee for admission. You may also be required to install and rent an ignition interlock system (IIS). The IIS contains a breathalyzer and requires you blow into it every time you start a car, whether or not it is your car. If your blood alcohol content level is above the legal limit, your vehicle will not start.

Post-Conviction Considerations

Anyone can make a mistake. Hopefully, even if arrested and convicted for DWI, minimal harm was done to persons or property. It may be necessary moving forward for your criminal record to be sealed or eliminated through non-disclosure or expunction, also known as expungement. This process requires all issues related to your DWI arrest to be resolved and requires the payment of fees to the State and possibly your attorney to seal your criminal record.

Every DWI Case is Unique

A good DWI defense attorney will guide you through every step of the DWI process – from arrest and arraignment to plea or trial. At the Law Office of Kimberly Griffin Tucker, P.C., we represent people accused of DWI in the Plano and surrounding areas of Denton County Texas. If you or someone you know has been arrested for DWI, contact us for a comprehensive case evaluation.