Chicago DUI

If you or a loved one has been arrested and charged with a crime in Chicago, you owe it to yourself to obtain the best criminal defense representation possible.

To learn more about your legal rights, contact the Law Offices of Andrew M. Weisberg today.

All initial consultations are FREE of charge.

Thousands of individuals are arrested in the Chicago area each year for DUI offenses (driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs). Having a skilled and aggressive DUI defense attorney can make a significant difference in the outcome of a DUI arrest. If you've been arrested in or near Chicago for a DUI offense, protect your legal rights by retaining an experienced DUI lawyer.

Illinois law has harsh penalties for drunk and drugged drivers. A DUI conviction will result in the automatic revocation of your driver's license, and depending on your driving history and any criminal history, you could be facing forfeiture of your vehicle and even prison time. A Chicago DUI defense attorney who is familiar with the local criminal justice system will work to minimize the negative consequences of your DUI experience.

Illinois & Chicago DUI Penalties

DUI offenses can be charged as misdemeanors or as felonies. A district attorney may be open to persuasion regarding the severity of charge — your defense attorney will negotiate on your behalf to try to get the charge reduced or even dismissed.

• If you've been charged with a misdemeanor DUI and you've never before been found guilty of a DUI offense, or
• If you've had a DUI reduced to a charge of reckless driving,

then you are eligible for court supervision. This will not appear on your public driving record, and it won't affect your driving privileges.

If you are convicted of a DUI, your driver's license will be revoked. Depending on the facts of your case and your driving history, you could be facing one or more of the following for a Chicago-area DUI conviction:

• Jail or prison time
• Community service
• Forfeiture of your vehicle
• Alcohol or substance abuse treatment

Depending upon the facts of your case and your driving history, a misdemeanor DUI charge can be upgraded to a felony charge of aggravated DUI. This can happen even on a first-offense DUI if at the time of your arrest you didn't have a valid driver's license, or if you knew or should have known that the vehicle you were driving was not insured.

An upgrade to a felony DUI charge can also occur when:

• You are alleged to have committed a DUI while your license was suspended or revoked because of a previous DUI
• You have committed two or more prior DUI offenses, or
• Serious or fatal injuries happened that were allegedly due to your drunk or drugged driving

A felony DUI conviction can result in a long-term prison sentence.

DUI offenses are a challenge to defend, since they're usually based on a law enforcement officer's direct observation, aided in many (but not all) cases by chemical testing (breath testing and blood testing for alcohol). A qualified Chicago DUI lawyer knows how to challenge the prosecution's evidence.

Contact a Chicago DUI Defense Attorney

Don't let the prosecution roll over you; if you or a loved one has been arrested in the Northern Illinois area, including Chicago, contact a DUI lawyer who knows the local criminal justice system and the many ways to defend your interests. Protect your legal rights.