Joliet DUI Lawyers

Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is a serious offense in Illinois that is punishable by fines, driver’s license suspension, and even imprisonment. With so much at stake, it is critical for those who are arrested with or charged with driving under the influence, to speak with an experienced Joliet DUI attorney who may be able to get their charges reduced or even dismissed.

Illinois Law

Illinois law defines driving under the influence as operating a vehicle while impaired by alcohol, other drugs prescribed for medical purposes, or intoxicating compounds. Specifically, a driver will be considered to be under the influence if:

• Their blood alcohol content (BAC) registers as .08 or more;
• They have a THC concentration of either five nanograms or more per milliliter of blood or ten nanograms or more per milliliter of another bodily substance;
• They have used any other controlled substance; or
• They are impaired by medication.

However, even when an individual has a BAC lower than .08, but higher than .05, he or she can still be convicted of DUI if additional evidence exists showing that the driver was impaired.

DUI Penalties

The penalties for DUI in Illinois depend on the circumstances of each case, so judges will take certain factors into consideration during sentencing, including:

• The driver’s age;
• The driver’s BAC level;
• Whether the driver had any passengers under the age of 16 years old in the car at the time of the arrest; and
• Whether the driver has any prior DUI arrests or convictions.

Generally, those arrested for DUI for the first time can expect to be charged with a Class A misdemeanor, have their vehicle registration suspended, and have their license revoked for a year. First time offenders who have a BAC of .16 or more can also be ordered to pay a fine of $500 and perform at least 100 hours of community service and those who had a passenger under the age of 16 years old in the car face imprisonment for up to six months. If the minor was injured in a crash, the driver’s charge will be enhanced to a Class 4 felony.

Second convictions are penalized even more severely, as defendants can expect to spend at least five days, but up to a year in prison or be required to perform 240 hours of community service. Furthermore, their license will be revoked for at least five years if the conviction is the driver’s second in 20 years. Third convictions are considered Aggravated DUIs and can result in a license revocation of least ten years. Those who are convicted a fourth or fifth time will lose their driving privileges for life and face imprisonment for up to 12 years.

Call Our Experienced Joliet Legal Team Today

If you were arrested for DUI, please call Sabuco Beck, P.C. at 815-730-8860 to speak with an experienced Joliet DUI attorney who can explain your legal options.