It’s normal to think that you can still drive yourself home even if you’ve had something to drink. After all, you feel that you can still walk straight, think right, and drive you car safely. However, you have to understand that doing so can get you into a lot of trouble, which, in the long run, will also affect your family.

Here are ways that drinking and driving can affect you and your family’s lives.

Fines and Other Expenses

If a patrol office caught you driving drunk, penalties will be imposed, one of which is paying fines. The amount that you will have to pay depends upon the state where you are in, the judge who presided over your case, and the severity of your case. The amount also depends upon the number of times you’ve been caught drunk driving and charged with DUI.

In addition to the fines, you also have to hire a lawyer to help you in court. Their services are especially important if you want to lower the fine and get out of spending time in prison. Without a good lawyer to help you, you could end up paying for a heftier amount of money and a longer stay in prison. Aside from these, there are also the court fees to think of.

Your car insurance rate will also go up. After all, you’ll be considered a liability, and as a liability, you have to pay for a higher rate. Other expenses that comes with a DUI charge includes car impound fees as well as towing fees. There will also be driving classes to attend to if the judge orders it as well as car modifications to pay for such as the installation of an ignition interlock device.

You have to pay for these expenses, of course, and live with the fact that the money you used could have gone to your family’s needs.

Spend Time in Jail

There’s also the big possibility of spending time in jail, especially if this isn’t the first time you’ve been apprehended and charged with DUI. The number of months to years that you might find yourself in prison depends upon the severity of your case.

Lose Your Income or Maybe Even Your Job

If you do spend time in prison, you’re not only going to end up losing your income but maybe even your job as well. After all, how many employers are willing to wait for their employees to get out of prison after a DUI charge?

If this happens, then you’re putting your family into a lot of emotional and financial stress. This is especially true if you’re the sole breadwinner of the family.

Injuring or Killing Someone

The worst consequence of driving while under the influence of alcohol is injury or death to someone. If this happens, you should prepare yourself not only for a lot of legal troubles and expenses but for a long time in jail as well.

So the next time you think of driving even if you’ve had a little drink, stop and think of the consequences. You don’t want these to happen to you.

Jennifer Dahline writes for a Broward County DUI lawyer. Through this article, she wishes to help readers understand the consequences of drunk driving better.