This is the part that drains your bank account fast and can change how hard a prosecutor pushes your case. A DUI fine schedule is the set range of money penalties tied to a drunk or drugged driving charge, usually based on the level of the offense, prior convictions, blood alcohol level, and whether anyone was hurt. It is not just one fine. It often includes the base fine, mandatory court surcharges, crime-victim fees, license-related fees, ignition interlock costs, and other add-ons that stack up after an arrest or conviction.

In practice, the schedule tells you the financial floor and ceiling for the charge. A first offense may carry one range, a repeat offense a much uglier one, and an aggravated case more still. In New York, these penalties appear in the Vehicle and Traffic Law, and a standard DWI conviction under New York law can bring fines in addition to a state surcharge and possible driver responsibility assessments. The exact amount depends on the charge and record, not wishful thinking.

For an injury claim, the schedule matters because a drunk-driving conviction can strengthen proof of negligence or even punitive damages arguments in a civil case. But fines paid to the court do not compensate the injured person. In New York's pure comparative negligence system, a victim can still recover damages even if partly at fault, including after a crash on places like the BQE where wrecks happen daily for reasons far beyond one bad decision.