DEFENSE AGAINST DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE CHARGES
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a dangerous and reckless act. That is why the Chicago Police Department takes great pains to arrest as many intoxicated motorists as possible each year. Unfortunately, many DUI arrests are made after unlawful traffic stops and many charges are filed based on inaccurate evidence (primarily chemical test evidence). Our team of Chicago DUI lawyers at Okabe & Haushalter can fight so that you do not lose your driving privileges and that your DUI is either dismissed or reduced to a lesser charge such as reckless driving.
ILLINOIS DRUNK DRIVING LAWS
Driving under the influence laws and penalties are outlined in Sec. 11-501 of the vehicle code. The legal intoxication limit in all states is .08 percent BAC. This means that if you submit to a chemical test (breath, blood or urine) and the test yields that your blood alcohol concentration was .08 percent or higher, you can be charged with DUI and your license will be suspended (unless you successfully contest this at an administrative hearing). Simple DUI (first DUI with no aggravating factors) is a Class A misdemeanor in this state. Listed below are some of the penalties for various DUI charges:
- First DUI: Minimum 5 hours’ imprisonment or 240 hours’ community service
- Second DUI: Six months’ imprisonment, a minimum fine of $1,000 and 25 days community service
- DUI of .16 or higher: Mandatory minimum 100 hours of community service and a minimum fine of $500.
Every DUI offense has two components: the criminal and the administrative. Above, our Chicago DUI lawyers have detailed the criminal component. Administrative consequences of drunk or drugged driving primarily revolve around the suspension of your driving privileges. After a DUI arrest, you will have to request an administrative hearing to either A) get your driving privileges restored or B) petition for the issuance of a Restricted Driving Permit. At Okabe & Haushalter, we can help you with both the criminal and administrative aspects of your driving under the influence arrest.
AREAS WE CAN ASSIST
Okabe & Haushalter can provide a Chicago criminal defense lawyer to fight your DUI in a number of ways:
Breath & Blood Tests
The results from a breath or blood test could be what stands between you and your freedom. If your blood alcohol concentration was over .08 percent, you are still innocent until proven guilty. Breath and blood tests are often inaccurate.
Felony DUI
Drunk driving that involves serious bodily injury, death or having multiple DUI convictions can warrant a felony DUI charge. Learn more about aggravated drunk driving charges by calling our firm.
Field Sobriety Tests
If you are stopped at a sobriety checkpoint or a law enforcement official stops your vehicle and they suspect that you have been drinking and driving, one of the first things they may ask you to do is step out of the vehicle and perform a standardized field sobriety test.
First-Time DUI
If this is your first DUI arrest, you may be unsure of what to do. Learn the basics about first drunk driving offenses and how they are handled in Chicago, Illinois.
Multiple DUI Offenses
Second or subsequent DUI offenses are dealt with more seriously, and can even be considered felonies. Learn about aggravated DUIs and how a defense attorney could fight to restore your license and reduce your charges.
Secretary of State Hearings
If you were arrested for driving under the influence, you can request a secretary of state hearing. This is an administrative license hearing that will decide whether or not your license will be suspended.
Statutory Summary Suspension
If you were arrested for DUI, then you are at risk of a statutory summary suspension. For your first DUI, you could face six months of suspension. The second offense you could face up to five years of suspension.
Underage DUI
There is a zero tolerance rule in the state of Illinois when it comes to drinking and driving under the age of 21. This means that any underage individual pulled over for drunk driving and tests at least .01 percent BAC can be arrested for DUI.
RETAIN AGGRESSIVE CRIMINAL DEFENSE
Consult with an attorney from Okabe & Haushalter right away to begin building a strong defense. We have represented countless DUI cases over the years with successful results. Our firm’s mission is to defend the rights of our clients and winning the outcome they deserve, and we fight tirelessly to achieve those goals. Check out our testimonials page to see what our past clients have to say about our success. We have also been recognized in the news by stations such as CNN, CBS2, and KCAL9, as well as news organizations like USA Today, Newsweek, and the AP. We can fight for a dismissal of your charges, so contact a Chicago DUI lawyer at our firm at 312-767-3869 today to schedule a consultation!