CHICAGO DUI ATTORNEY

DRIVING UNDER INFLUENCE

Drunk Driving

In Illinois one does not have to be over the legal limit of .08 in order to be charged with a DUI. Chicago and suburban enforcement agencies systematically have been cracking down on drivers who are below the legal limit of .08, but in fact are legally under the influence of alcohol or other substances. In some instances a DUI arrest can be triggered even if the person has not been drinking at all, but has consumed over the counter medication, such as sleeping pills or cough medicine. A combination of alcohol with illegal or prescription drugs in one’s system, while operating a motor vehicle, can easily lead to a DUI an arrest. Nowadays, driving under the influence does not necessarily mean, drunk driving anymore. If you are under the influence of any type of substance, police can and will arrest you and charge you with a DUI. Where an accident involving personal injury or property damage occurred, authorities are allowed to have your blood drawn and tested for alcohol or other substances. If you or someone you know have been charged with a DUI and in need of an experienced DUI attorney, contact my firm today.

ILLINOIS FELONY DUI

Felony DUI & Consequences

First DUI can be a felony. As a first time offender you can be charged with a felony DUI if at the time of the arrest you did not have insurance or a valid driver’s license. A second time DUI offender can be charged with a felony, if he or she was on supervision for a previous DUI during the time of the arrest. A third time DUI offense is an automatic felony and can land you some serious jail time. Don’t gamble with your liberty. I have handled felony DUI cases in the past and have successfully beaten the charges. If you or someone you know have been arrested and charged with a felony DUI call my law firm today.

DUI STANDARDIZED FIELD SOBRIETY TESTS

What To Do

Following a traffic stop, a police officer will often ask the motorist suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol to step out of the vehicle and perform a battery of field sobriety tests (FST). Most DUI lawyers will refer to them as field aerobics, because most people have a hard time performing them, even when sober. In Illinois, only three tests are recognized and approved under the Federal guidelines. Those tests are, the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus, (HGN), this is where the officer asks you to follow a pen with your eyes, the Walk and Turn, and the One Leg Stand. While performing FST, the officer will observe your performance and look for “clues” of intoxication. Clues are your inability to perform the FST in a prescribed manner. Six or more clues gathered from the three tests, is an indication that the motorist might be under the influence. Driver's failure to properly complete all FSTs will generally give rise to probable cause for an officer to administer the Breathalyzer Exam at the station. Blowing over the legal limit will result in a DUI arrest. Most lawyers will tell you that field sobriety tests are subjective in nature and taking them will generally hurt you more than help you. If you want to get more information regarding a DUI and drunk driving arrest, and would like to talk to a lawyer, contact my firm today.