Chicago DUI Attorney (Drunk Driving Lawyer)
If you would like to reach Mr. Weisberg quickly and directly, please call his cell phone 24/7 at (773) 908-9811 or Text LAWYER to 25827 for prompt call back. The consultation is free.
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. The law governing DUI is found at 625 ILCS 5/11-501.
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 prosecutor 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 (625 ILCS 5/11-503), then you are eligible for court supervision. This will minimize the long term issues related to your driving priviliges. The same would not be true if you were previously convicted of aggravated reckless driving.
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
When Upgraded Charges Are Issued
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.
Another serious driving offense not involving alcohol or drugs is driving on a suspended or revoked license (625 ILCS 5/6-303). Even a driver following all other laws can go to jail or even prison when driving when his license is either suspended or revoked. This offense can be charged as a misdemeanor or felony depending on the driver’s traffic record.
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.
If you would like to reach Mr. Weisberg quickly and directly, please call his cell phone 24/7 at (773) 908-9811 or Text LAWYER to 25827 for prompt call back. The consultation is free.
