Chicago Criminal Lawyer Blog
Driving under the influence (DUI) is a crime in the state of Illinois. An Illinois DUI conviction may carry criminal penalties including fines, jail time, probation, and community service. The severity of these penalties will vary according to the circumstances of the offense. If you or a loved one has been charged with an Illinois DUI or DUI/DWI in Chicago, call a capable Chicago drunk driving attorney immediately!
In Illinois, a driver is legally considered to be under the influence if they have a blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or more, have used any illegal substance, or are impaired by medication.
Chicago Drunk Driving Attorney Discusses Being Pulled Over In Illinois
A police officer may stop a vehicle at a roadside safety check or for probable cause, reasonable suspicion or unusual operation. If the officer suspects the driver is under the influence, the officer may ask the driver to submit to field sobriety tests to determine the driver’s sobriety.
Field sobriety tests typically involve a police officer asking a driver to perform a number of tasks that assess any impairment of the person’s physical or cognitive ability. Examples may including having the driver walk in a straight line, heel to toe; having them recite the alphabet backwards; and the police officer’s use of the eye and penlight test.
If the officer does not suspect the driver is under the influence, the driver is released with any applicable violations.
Illinois DUI Lawyer Discusses Additional Testing Procedures
If the officer has probable cause of Chicago drunk driving based on the field sobriety tests, the driver is placed under arrest for Illinois DUI. The driver is asked to submit to a chemical testing of breath, urine or blood.
Chemical tests can be conducted during the vehicle stop, using a Breathalyzer that measures a driver’s BAC, or at a hospital, where urine and blood tests can be performed. If the chemical test determines the driver is not under the influence, the driver is released with any applicable violations.
An Illinois Statutory Summary Suspension (suspension of driving privileges) will be issued to a driver arrested for Illinois DUI who fails, refuses to submit to, or fails to complete chemical testing. Failing a chemical test indicates a person’s BAC was .08 or above or that the test showed a trace of other drugs. It’s imperative you call an experienced Chicago drunk driving attorney, Illinois DUI lawyer, or Chicago DUI attorney for legal guidance.
Chicago Drunk Driving Attorney Discusses Factors Impacting Illinois DUI Penalties
Many factors can impact Illinois DUI penalties, including whether the driver has a history of DUI violations; if the driver was under the legal drinking age at the time of the DUI violation; if the DUI violation occurred while there was a child in the vehicle; if the DUI violation involved a car accident in which another person was injured or killed; amongst others.
Other circumstances taken into consideration are whether the DUI was committed while driving a school bus carrying persons age 18 or younger or if the DUI was committed in a school zone while the restricted speed limit was in effect. Additional DUI penalties can have serious consequences. If you’ve been charged with DUI, speak with a Chicago drunk driving attorney, Illinois DUI lawyer or Chicago DUI attorney to discuss your case.
Hiring An Illinois DUI Lawyer
If you are arrested for DUI in the state of Illinois or in Chicago, you may need the assistance of an experienced Illinois DUI lawyer. If you’ve been charged with DUI, you may face jail time and Illinois driver’s license revocation. A skilled Chicago drunk driving attorney, Illinois DUI lawyer or Chicago DUI attorney attorney with years of experience defending DUI cases will evaluate all the evidence, including the procedure and results of any field sobriety and chemical tests, to ensure that your legal rights are protected.