Chicago DUI Attorney

Criminal charges for drunk driving can be very serious, even for a first offense. In addition to the loss of your driver’s license and increased car insurance rates, you will face steep fines and potential time in jail. You may also be required to attend treatment for alcohol abuse, use an ignition interlock device in any vehicle you drive, or complete a period of probation. If someone was injured while you were driving under the influence, or if you have previously been convicted of DUI, the charges can become even more serious.

Driving under the influence (DUI) and driving while intoxicated (DWI) are often used interchangeably, and they essentially mean the same thing. Illinois law refers to this offense as DUI, and a person is considered to be under the influence if they have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08%. DUI charges can also apply if a person is intoxicated due to the use of marijuana, prescription drugs, or controlled substances and is unable to safely operate a vehicle.

A criminal defense lawyer can examine the circumstances of your arrest and determine whether police officers violated any laws or procedures or whether there are any issues with the evidence used against you. For example, your attorney may be able to argue that an officer did not have a reason to pull you over in the first place, or they may show that the equipment used to measure your BAC was not calibrated correctly. Your lawyer can also help you determine what options may be available to reduce your charges or sentence.

Under the “implied consent” laws in Illinois and the United States, drivers are required to submit to testing of their blood alcohol concentration (BAC). However, implied consent only applies after a person has been arrested. You are not required to take a roadside breathalyzer test when asked, but this refusal may give an officer probable cause to arrest you. After being arrested, if you refuse to submit to a blood, breath, or urine test of your BAC, your driver’s license will be suspended for one year, and you may still be charged with DUI

First-time DUI offenders or multiple DUI offenders who receive a Restricted Driving Permit may be able to drive while their license is suspended by having an ignition interlock device (IID), also known as a breath alcohol ignition interlock device (BAIID), installed in their vehicle. This device functions like a breathalyzer, and it will require a driver to measure their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) before driving and at certain intervals. The vehicle will not start unless the driver’s BAC is below a certain level.