Michael Kramer, Attorney at law

1311 Mamaroneck Ave
Suite 340
White Plains, NY 10605
mk@michaelkramerlaw.com

Call for a Free, 20-min,
Traffic Ticket Strategy Session

(914) 709-7161

Michael Kramer, Attorney at law

Interviewer: What are some of the costs of Mandatory classes and what are these classes?

Michael Kramer: Well, there’s the drinking and driving program. The rates vary but it’s around $150 to $160, as I understand it. It’s not exorbitant.

Interviewer: All right.

Michael Kramer: In addition, there’s a victim impact panel, which is about $50. There’s the cost of getting your regular license back after you’ve finished the classes. The suspension/termination fees or revocation are in the neighborhood of $50 to $75.

For a DWAI, that’s about it, in terms of a sentence. There’s a court fine, there’s the cost of the school, and there’s the cost of the victim impact panel. Prior to disposing of the case, you have to get an alcohol evaluation and various companies or individuals that do the evaluation charge anywhere from $300 to $400 for the evaluation, so there’s that expense.

Interviewer: I understand that someone may have to pay donation costs also.

Michael Kramer: Not usually.

Interviewer: The victim impact panel doesn’t have a donation?

Michael Kramer: The victim impact panel is merely a lecture – one night, two to three hours –usually in Westchester, given by the Department of Probation and they might have various people who’ve been victimized by drunk drivers speak. It’s a lecture.

Ignition Interlock Device

Interviewer: The other thing I’m looking at, as a possible cost, is the ignition interlock device.

Michael Kramer: If you get the reduced charge there’s no expense for the ignition interlock device. If you plead to a misdemeanor, however, it is mandatory. The price of installing varies. I’ve been told it’s between $150 and $200. Plus there’s a monthly fee for calibrating; that’s approximately $80.

Interviewer: How long does someone have that in their car?

Michael Kramer: Usually a year.

Trial Costs& Expert Witnesses

Interviewer: Now, trials become a little bit expensive, right?

Michael Kramer: There is no extra court fee for a trial. You have that absolute right. However, there usually are additional attorney’s fees for a jury trial.

Interviewer: Let’s talk about expert witnesses. That may also be a factor in that case.

Michael Kramer: Right. The cost of going to trial is always more expensive than not depending on the defense you put forth and depending on what witnesses are necessary to call. If you’re going to call expert witnesses, there certainly are expert witness fees, which can be substantial.

Interviewer: What witnesses are we talking about and how much are they going to be costing someone?

Michael Kramer: Yes, obviously they range in price but then depending on the credentials of the expert, but experts can run up to $2,500 per day for their testimony, plus $2,500 to $5,000 to review and discuss the case with the attorneys. You’re talking about a total of $5,000 and up.

Michael Kramer, Esq.

Call for a Free, 20-min,
Traffic Ticket Strategy Session
(914) 709-7161