DUI Penalties in Illinois

Fighting Penalties for DUI in Illinois

Penalties for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol can be costly and harsh, leaving someone convicted of a DUI offense with lasting consequences. Besides leaving a person with a suspended license, there can be large fines imposed and even jail time.

Get Legal Defense To Avoid DUI Conviction!

Being accused of drinking and driving is still short of being convicted of DUI. While accusations leave room for defense, convictions effectively mark the end of your ability to challenge the allegations that have been made in your name.

Because your charges can be fought prior to a verdict or dismissal, you should retain the legal defense of a proven professional as soon as possible after an arrest. Acting immediately will allow you the best chance of avoiding the penalties that a DUI conviction subjects you to.

Having an experienced attorney is crucial when facing a DUI, as pleading guilty can be much more serious than you realize.

Fight serious penalties for DUI in Illinois by speaking with our DUI defense attorney. Contact our firm today!

Penalties for Misdemeanor DUI Offenses

The state of Illinois treats DUI offenses as "priorable," meaning that each successive conviction will result in a harsher set of penalties. Additionally, as DUI penalties in Illinois increase in severity and duration, other types of consequences may come into play. The Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Device Program is one such consequence designed to prevent further offenses through the mandatory installation of an Ignition Interlock Device (IID).

In general, driving under the influence can yield the following charges and sentencing:

An individual who is charged for a first-time misdemeanor DUI will be subjected to potential penalties including court supervision for up to two years, jail time of up to one year, payment of a DUI tech fee worth $500, and additional fines of up to $2,500.
A second misdemeanor offense for DUI will not include the option of court supervision. Instead, the offender will have their license revoked and spend and no less than five days in jail. In addition, they will have to complete 240 hours of community service. The DUI technology fee for these charges is $1,000 and additional fines could reach $2,500.
Third-time misdemeanor offenders will be sentenced with between three and seven years of imprisonment as well as an additional 48 months of probation time. At a minimum, third-time offenders face ten days in jail and 480 hours of community service. While the DUI tech fee will remain at $1,000, their fines can reach up to $25,000.
Sentencing for a fourth-time offense remains primarily the same as a third-time offense, with the exception that the offender will not be eligible for probation.

Penalties for a Felony DUI Offense

While the penalties for DUI in Illinois will always vary slightly depending on the specific circumstances of the situation, you can safely assume that a felony DUI will result in a much harsher set of penalties than a regular one. Acquiring multiple DUI convictions within a limited number of years will automatically result in felony charges. Under such circumstances, you could be subjected to an even harsher set of penalties.

Some cases of felony DUI involve incidents of fatality. In these cases, the punishments for a felony offense will dramatically differ from those issued to a habitual traffic offender. Not only will these individuals be issued with extensively harsh penalties, they will also find it incredibly difficult to be awarded probation for their sentencing. Only under extraordinary circumstances will a judge be prompted to award probation to the drive of a DUI fatality accident.

Alternative Sentencing for a DUI in Illinois

DUI offenders are subjected to a number of penalties, most of which are final and cannot be altered. For jail and prison sentences, however, there may be alternatives available. For example, convicted individuals may instead be issued hours of community service or roadside work instead of having to spend time in jail or prison.

Other DUI offenders may be given the opportunity to remain under house arrest while monitored by an electronic device. The choice will ultimately be up to the judge presiding over your case; however, your chances of obtaining a lesser sentence or reduced DUI penalties will be greatly increased when you pursue your allegations under the defense of a DUI attorney.

Facing DUI penalties in Illinois? Contact my firm to schedule your free consultation with our Chicago DUI defense attorney!