South Dakotans convicted of driving a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or intoxicants could soon face an additional cost. Senate Bill 81 says they must pay a 50 dollar processing fee at the time of conviction. That money goes into the county general fund. Senator David Omdahl is a prime sponsor of the bill.
“I ask you to think of this as a user fee,” Omdahl says. “A user fee tied to those individuals that choose to break the law while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. These individuals convicted of driving under the influence use our law enforcement, our county jails, and our county court systems at the taxpayers’ expense.”
Omdahl says the fee helps compensate counties. Members of the Senate Local Government Committee voted unanimously to pass the bill.