Driving under the influence, or DUI, is a serious offense in Chicago and the surrounding communities. It also carries serious penalties that range from supervision and fines to serious prison time, so if you’ve been accused of this crime, it’s essential that you talk to a Chicago DUI defense lawyer as soon as possible.
Call us at 847-920-4540 for a completely free consultation right now!
Driving Under the Influence in Chicago: What it Means
Driving under the influence or driving while intoxicated falls under 625 ILCS 5/11-501, which defines it as “Driving while under the influence of alcohol, other drug or drugs, intoxicating compound or compounds or any combination thereof.”
The statute says that if you’re driving or in physical control of any vehicle while your blood-alcohol concentration is 0.08 or more, or while you’re under the influence of alcohol or any intoxicating compound(s) that render you incapable of driving safely, you can be charged with DUI. You can also be charged if investigators find “any amount of a drug, substance or compound” in your “breath, blood, or urine resulting from the unlawful use or consumption of cannabis listed in the Cannabis Control Act, a controlled substance listed in the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, an intoxicating compound listed in the Use of Intoxicating Compounds Act, or methamphetamine as listed in the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act.”
If you’re convicted of DUI in Chicago, the consequences can include:
- Fines
- The loss of your driver’s license
- Impoundment of your vehicle
- Jail or prison time
What Happens During a DUI Stop in Chicago?
In many cases, police use a routine traffic stop as an excuse to pull you over. From there, the officer will ask questions and start looking for signs of intoxication or the influence of drugs. Typically, police officers will pressure you into participating in a “field sobriety test” or take a breath test.
If the officer believes that you’re under the influence of drugs or alcohol, he or she will arrest you and take you to jail.
What Will a Chicago DUI Lawyer Do for You?
Your Chicago DUI defense lawyer has one job: to defend you while preserving your rights. That means your attorney is going to look at your case under a microscope. He will:
- Search for police errors
- Look for violations of your rights
- Find out whether there were errors in the field sobriety test you felt forced to take
- Determine whether there were failures to follow police protocol
- Figure out whether the breath or blood tests could have been inaccurate or compromised in some way
- See if there were administrative errors that can prove your innocence or lead to the dismissal of charges
After your DUI defense attorney has examined every facet of your case, he’ll develop a strategy that gets you the best possible outcome. He’ll also file a petition to rescind the automatic driver’s license suspension (driving on a suspended or revoked driver’s license after a DUI carries its own penalties).
Why Choose The Law Offices of Matt Fakhoury?
Attorney Matt Fakhoury is a former DUI prosecutor, and he’s well-versed in all local and statewide DUI regulations. As a prosecutor, he worked hand-in-hand with police departments that were charging people with DUI, and he tried hundreds of DUI cases. You can get more information in the following links:
If you’ve been charged with DUI, you owe it to yourself—and your family—to work with a DUI defense lawyer in Chicago who understands how the entire process works… and who will fight hard on your behalf.
Call us at 847-920-4540 for your free DUI case evaluation now. We can give you legal advice and help ensure you get the best possible outcome on your case.
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