If you live in Illinois, were vacationing in Illinois, visiting there, or were there for business reasons, and you received a DUI charge while driving there, you need to seek a competent Illinois lawyer to help process your case through the Illinois court system. An Illinois lawyer well-versed in the field of DUI law will be able to help you navigate through the necessary procedures. You do not want to face this kind of charge without the help of an experienced Illinois lawyer.

You will need to file a challenge to your DUI offense immediately or you will automatically lose your license for a set period of days without even so much as a hearing. An experienced Illinois lawyer can help you through this process.

A DWI or DUI is a serious offense and is not taken lightly. The laws regarding DWI and DUI violations are constantly changing and you need an expert Illinois lawyer in that field that knows all the up-to-date information regarding the regulations and procedures that go along with a DUI violation.

An arrest and conviction of a DUI offense in the State of Illinois will result in two different actions being taken against you. The first is for the criminal charge resulting from a DUI violation; the other involves what is called an administrative charge. The Illinois Department of Motor Vehicles will automatically implement a “statutory summary suspension.” This means your driver’s license will automatically be suspended for a set period of time and then, if appropriate, will automatically be reinstated.

A criminal DUI conviction will result in possible jail time, a monetary fine, suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and attendance at an alcohol education program. Also, if and when your driver’s license is reinstated, your insurance rates are bound to increase significantly.

Penalties

In the State of Illinois, first time offenders may be able to apply to the court for a Judicial Driving Permit (JDP), which can possibly allow you to drive during your suspension with certain restrictions.

First Conviction

• Possible one year jail time
• Driver’s license revocation for one year
• Maximum fine reaching $2,500

Second Conviction

• If second offense occurs within a 20-year timeframe, loss of driver’s license for a
• minimum of 5 years
• If second offense occurs within a 5-year timeframe, jail time of 5 days or 30 days of
• community service work
• Jail time possible of up to one year

Third Conviction

• Will be considered a Class 4 felony
• Revocation of driver’s license for 6 years
• Jail time of up to 3 years
• Maximum fines reaching $10,000

The State of Illinois also has a policy that states if you are alcohol or drug impaired, you are considered a threat to the public and the general safety and welfare of society. Therefore, an immediate driver’s license suspension is enabled.

An Illinois DUI lawyer will examine the details of your DUI charge and look for ways to challenge your arrest and possibly have the DUI charge dropped or reduced. Such challenges that an experienced Illinois DUI lawyer may offer for the court to review include:

• Challenge the reason why the police officer stopped your vehicle in the first place. Your vehicle cannot be stopped unless the officer has a reasonable belief that a law has been broken. You cannot be stopped from someone phoning in, anonymously, a tip that you may not be driving correctly.
• Challenge the accuracy of any field sobriety tests that may have been given to you at the time.
• Challenge the accuracy of a breath or blood test that was administered to you. The equipment used could be faulty and/or not well-maintained or serviced. The person managing the testing procedure may not have been qualified or trained to do so.

An experienced Illinois lawyer in DUI laws can help you through the legal processes of your offense. Search for and hire a qualified, licensed Illinois lawyer right away.

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