You're ignorant about DUI laws, the reason the fines are so high is to heavily discourage anyone from doing it. I've seen enough drunk driver wrecks where I'm from to know there is no excuse to do it and if I see someone who's exhibiting signs of DUI, they're toast, I will trail them until I see the police pull them over and arrest them. You seem to think people should be punished only after they hurt/kill someone, sorry... you drive drunk, you put ME in danger, I have the right to put you in danger, of jail.
This is the kind of fear and propaganda that has put marijuana where it is today. I got pulled over in a random "safety check" (seatbelt check, dui check, etc.) I was 18 and just graduated high school, got a DUI arrest on my record.
I blew .0136. This is like drinking a single beer and waiting an hour. ANY( above .0000) bac by someone under 21 counts as a DUI in my state. Basically, they knew I had been at a grad party and said I was acting drunk.
I was lucky because my parents are understanding and had the means to help. I would NEVER have been able to pay the ridiculous fines myself at that age, getting ready to go to college.
...
In any case, IL has some of the strictest DUI laws in the country. First time offenders pay about a grand and have to get a box installed in their vehicle that makes them blow into it to start your engine (this is at your added cost on top of the 1,000 dollars). Yup this is what happens your first strike. Most states do this on your 2nd or 3rd DUI.
If you don't want the DUI on your criminal and driving record go get a lawyer. It will cost your roughly around 5-7 grand but a good lawyer will be able to get you to plea down your first time offense for a DUI (especially if you're in Cook county). I use to live in Chicago. Seriously spend the money and get the best lawyer you can get. DUI's in IL go down as a misdemeanor which is as bad as getting a felony conviction in terms of looking for a job. If this doesn't bother you then I hope you have good job security and won't need a new job in the next 5 yrs...
I lived in chicago at the time of this, but was charges in a different county. All in all,
~4000 in fines
~5000 in lawyer fees
~300 impound
~200 court fees
Because I had a good lawyer, this is now expunged from my record. However, arrest records or a police blotter article could be found probably.
Socata:
Yes drunk driving can be extremely dangerous, but not every person who is drunk drives badly. even 20 years ago people really only got DUIs if they deserved them. If this is what happened today, AND there were harsher penelties, I think we would have a happy medium.
Also, DUIs are a cash cow for counties and states. Here is some evidence.
1)
In a corporation, salesmen are often rewarded for good sales by promotions. This is because they are bringing in more money to the company. The state, like a business,gets a lot of revenue through DUIs, in my case, $4000. Now, to promote this, they give extra funding to top DUI arresting towns. Which in turn, means higher police salaries. Officers with higher arrests get better bonuses.
2)
Most lawyers will tell a teenager in trouble to have their parents obviously sit next to them in court. He tells the kid that the Judge will like the fact that the parents support their child. My lawyer told me the truth however. Judges like to see parents in conjunction with a lawyer becuase that means they will and can pay a high fine=more money. I have less fortunate friends. Instead of high fines, they got convicted and penalized more severely in the long run. One of my close friends is on 5 years mandatory probation with no chance of expungment of the conviction. He will have this on his record for life.
PS:
*in illinois, if you are underage and at a party with people drinking underage, you can get charged with underage drinking even if you havent had a sip.
*as of 2008, any person who gets any underage drinking ticket automatically loses their liscnece for at least 3 months. Often times 6 months
edit: not to mention i lost my liscence for a year, which in chicago suburbs with no public transportaion, means it is hard to work anywhere