People who chose to drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs are not only putting themselves, and others at risk; if they are arrested they could find themselves being buried under a pile of crippling debt.

Although many places in California will release first-time drunk drivers on their own recognizance, some places, such as the San Diego Central Jail, always require that a defendant post bail bonds.

Bail for this offense can be as low as $2,500 or as high as $100,000 depending on what happened during the arrest.  If the defendant got into an accident where another person was hurt or injured, that amount could be set much higher.

If you are arrested for drunk or drugged driving your car will be impounded; if your are in jail for several days you'll not only need to pay towing fees, you'll need to pay impound storage fees before you can get your vehicle back.

After the car situation gets sorted out, there are many other things you'll need to do after you get a DUI.

For example, you'll likely be required to pay fines and penalties as required by the court, you'll need to pay public transportation fees after your license is suspended, and when your driving privileges are reinstated, their auto insurance rates will skyrocket.

That process also has a number costs associated with it; a DMV reinstatement fee often runs about $125.  This is in addition to the $250 reinstatement fee that is paid to the state.

If the accused person hires an attorney to represent them in court, this can also translate into thousands of dollars in costs. If the matter can't be settled without going to trial, the lawyer fees can soon become substantial.

And lastly, if the judge requires the defendant agree to take an alcohol education program, the arrestee should know these programs are not free.  The costs can range between $500 and $1,000 depending on where you live.

The bottom line is this- driving while under the influence is never a good idea.  Plan a safe way home in advance and if all else fails, download a ride-share app.  The $10 it will cost you to cab home is much safer, and far less expensive than rolling the dice.

Read the full story here:  Real costs of drunk and drugged drivers