DUI and DWI in Illinois are Serious Offenses
Driving under the influence (DUI) and driving while intoxicated (DWI) in Illinois are serious offenses. There are grave consequences such as jail, convictions, fines, suspensions, and revocations of driving privileges, as well as the impact to your employment, insurance, education, and personal freedoms if convicted. Whether you are a first-time or multiple offender, drunk driving charges should not be taken lightly. Start early and build an aggressive legal defense with guidance of criminal defense attorney Dave Studenroth. He can make a big difference in your case.
If you’ve been arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, you need to contact Mr. Studenroth immediately as the criminal justice system can move swiftly compared to civil court where lawsuits are heard.
According to Illinois DUI law, the penalties for drunken driving are revocation of your Illinois driver’s license for at least one year, possible imprisonment, fines, and community service.
Mr. Studenroth will meet with you and ask specific questions about your arrest. He needs to understand what happened and the evidence against you.
Unless the prosecution drops the charges, you are looking at three legal options: plead guilty, try to negotiate a plea bargain, which would have you pleading guilty to a lesser charge, or plead not guilty and go to trial. Mr. Studenroth will review the consequences of each option and advise you accordingly.
What can an experienced Illinois DUI attorney do for you?
The short answer is a lot. Mr. Studenroth is a skilled and experienced attorney in the DUI and DWI field. He is able to accomplish the following key goals in defending your case:
- Analyze scientific accuracy of your blood test
- Analyze scientific accuracy of your breath test
- Analyze scientific accuracy of any chemical testing
- Determine whether your field sobriety tests were administered properly
- Evaluate the legality of your traffic stop by police
- Examine your case’s evidence closely
- Provide you with the best chance of avoiding DUI or DWI conviction
- Retain qualified expert witnesses to build a strong defense and attack prosecution’s case
- Review whether your rights were fully explained
DUI Laws in Illinois
Illinois drunk driving laws start with the .08 percentage blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit. Like all states across the country, Illinois prohibits driving with a .08 percent BAC or above. If you are under 21 years of age there is a “Zero” tolerance for alcohol and driving. The only exceptions are for individuals who consume alcohol as part of a religious ceremony or in prescribed medicine containing alcohol. Even with the exceptions, driving with a BAC of .08 is the limit in all cases.
If you are convicted of a DUI in Illinois, the first offense will result in a minimum 1 year suspension of your drivers license. In addition, you may be imprisoned for up to one year and fined up to $2,500. If the driver was transporting a person under the age of 16 at the time of the violation, is subject to an additional mandatory minimum fine of $1,000, and 25 days of community service.
You will receive a Minimum 5 year suspension of your drivers license for your second drunk driving conviction. You will also receive a mandatory 5 days in jail or 240 days of community service or up to 1 year in jail and a maximum fine of $2,500. If, at the time of the second violation the person was transporting a person under the age of 16, the driver is subject to up to 1-3 years of imprisonment, an additional fine up to $25,000.
If you are unfortunate enough to receive your 3rd drunk driving conviction you will receive a minimum 10 year loss of your driving privileges, be imprisoned for up to 7 years, and a maximum fine of $2,500. If, at the time of the third violation, the person was transporting a person under the age of 16, the driver is guilty of a Class 4 felony and shall receive, in addition to any other penalty imposed, an additional mandatory fine of $25,000, an additional mandatory 25 days of community service and up to 1 to 3 years imprisonment.
Contact DUI Attorney David Studenroth Today For A Free Consultation
If you’ve been arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, you must contact Mr. Studenroth immediately. Call 847.292.9200 today.
Call 847.292.9200 for a free consultation.