Driving drunk can cost you - a lot

PORTLAND, Ore. - Besides risking lives, driving drunk can cost you thousands of dollars if you get caught.

About 25,000 people in Oregon were arrested last year for driving under the influence. Most of those didn't result in a crash or anyone getting hurt. But DUII's can leave a huge financial dent.

Starting with the citation, in Oregon it's $5,000, and you go to jail.

Your car is towed. That'll cost you $250.

Then there's your $400 visit to court. Plus, tack on the attorney you'll need. They don't work cheap. Expect to pay at least $3,000 for that.

The required diversion program is $458, and an alcohol evaluation is $150.

You also have to pay $800 to get an ignition interlock device installed and maintained in your car.

Then there's the issue of your car insurance. Most companies have a zero-tolerance policy. So in all likelihood, your insurance will be canceled. If you have a perfect driving record and you're lucky enough to keep it, expect to lose all of your discounts and see your premium go up about 50 percent. Some insurance companies say that could cost you up to $3,000 over three years.

That's assuming you even get to keep your license. Most people don't. It's typically suspended for one year.

Total it all up and you've paid about $13,058.

It's an unnecessary expense when you consider you could have just taken a cab.

There are other costs you have to factor in that don't have a dollar amount. When people can't drive some can't get to work and they lose their jobs. And there's the embarrassment that comes with being arrested and going through the court process.

According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, 70 people died in Oregon last year because of drunken driving; 170 died in Washington.