LEBANON, Pa. — Note: The video is from July 4, 2023.
Lebanon County District Attorney Pier Hess Graf on Wednesday announced that police in the county will participate in an impaired driving enforcement initiative over the Fourth of July weekend.
From Thursday through Sunday, officers from several Lebanon County police departments will conduct roving patrols targeting impaired drivers, Graf said in a press release.
The initiative is part of the Nationwide Impaired Driving Campaign and is designed to reduce alcohol and drug related traffic crashes, she added.
Alcohol-related fatalities account for nearly 30 percent of all traffic fatalities in Pennsylvania, according to PennDOT. But impaired driving enforcement covers more than just alcohol impairment. Law enforcement also works to identify motorists impaired by drugs and prescription medication, or some combination of these.
The costs associated with an impaired driving arrest can vary greatly depending on several factors, including blood alcohol content, location of arrest, and number of offenses, PennDOT said.
The effect on a driver's wallet starts the moment they are stopped by police.
Here are a few expenses associated with a DUI, according to PennDOT.
- Traffic fine: $300 - $10,000 depending on blood alcohol content and number of offenses
- Towing vehicle: $175 - $500 depending on circumstances
- Impound: $75-$175 per day
- Legal fees: $2,000-$8,000 or more
- Alcohol evaluation: $35-$100
- Accelerated rehabilitative disposition (ARD): $100-$1,800
- Education and treatment: $100-$1,000 or more
- License restoration: $76 non-commercial, $184 commercial
- Insurance premium: increase of about $1,000 a year or cancellation of policy
Apart from the financial aspects of a DUI arrest, there may also be social ramifications. Court appearances, community service requirements or jail time lead to lost time and lost wages — possibly job loss.
For more information on the dangers and consequences of impaired driving, go here.