Experienced Rochester DWI lawyers have seen the financial penalties surrounding drinking and driving offenses continually climb.

These increased expenses, however, have generally not been brought about by increasing the potential fines associated with a DWI conviction.

Instead, a wide variety of mandatory assessments, surcharges and fees have been applied to drinking and driving convictions.

As a result, most people convicted of DWI will find that the amount of any fine ordered by the court will only be a portion of the total expenses associated with the conviction.

This is easily seen when a first time offender is convicted of Driving While Intoxicated.

The court is authorized to issue a fine of between $500 and $1,000 for the conviction.

In addition to the fine, however, the defendant will be required to pay various surcharges amounting to almost $400, which are due when the fine is paid.

He or she will also be required to pay a Driver Responsibility Assessment to the Department of Motor Vehicles in the amount of $750.

This assessment may be paid all at once or split up over three years.

The total of the mandatory surcharges and Driver Responsibility Assessment actually exceeds the maximum $1,000 fine that the court may impose on a first time offender.

This does not even take into account that if the defendant wishes to continue driving, he or she will be required to pay hundreds of dollars to cover the costs of attending the Drinking Driver Program and having an ignition interlock device installed and maintained on his or her car.

There are also fees that must be paid to the DMV once the driver is eligible to be have his or her full driving privileges reinstated.

A DWI conviction is very expensive. If you need the help of experienced lawyer, please call us at 585-484-7432 for a legal consultation.