If you have been arrested for drunk driving in the past few years, you may have noticed that the cost a drunk driving offense is increasing. When faced with penalties, drivers may find themselves dealing with court fines, cost of ignition interlock devices, and even high insurance rates.

But one penalty that many Pennsylvania courts are deciding to give is the Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition program. More and more first-time offenders are finding themselves in ARD programs as an alternative to incarceration.

The concern over drunk driving could be linked to the growing number of DUI arrests in the state each year. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation also records the number of accidents that are related to drunk driving - in one year there were nearly 1,500 alcohol-related crashes. That could explain why the costs of drunk driving arrests are increasing.

The ARD program is specifically designed to keep first-time offenders out of the courts and, in a sense, rehabilitate them so that they do not become repeat offenders. A spokesperson for the Pennsylvania DUI Association believes that the ARD program can help drivers charged with a DUI who also have mental illnesses. Statistically more than half of the drivers arrested for drunk driving are dealing with some sort of mental health issue.

But what sorts of penalties await repeat offenders? According to the article, the costs can grow quickly and include a prison sentence. In addition, drivers who are ordered to use ignition interlock devices end up paying thousands of dollars to rent the interlock machines.

Source: The Daily Item: "DUIs rising, and so are costs," Francis Scarcella, Aug. 14, 2011.