Reader’s Question:

I plan to buy a used car for my son who is bound for college soon. What are the steps that we would have to take to get cheaper premiums for his car insurance here in Waukegan, Illinois?

Noel

Waukegan, IL

There are certain things that your son would have to do to lessen his car insurance rates in Waukegan, Illinois. The first step to take is to buy an older car model because insurance premiums are less expensive for older vehicles. He would also have to avoid modifying his vehicle because doing such may cause him to pay higher premiums. Also, since the car that you’ll purchase is a used one, it may be a less valuable car so he may opt not to get collision coverage. In addition, if he gets higher deductibles, that could help lessen his car insurance rate by as much as 30%.

You may also advise him to attend defensive-driving classes because auto insurance providers usually offer motorists a discount for completing a defensive-driving course. Another way of getting a discount is to drive less than the given average number of miles every year. So if he would be close to his school, he may be entitled for this kind of discount. Best of all, he would have to look around and do some research to get the best car insurance for his needs as premiums really differ from every insurance provider.

Tags: car, car insurance, cheaper auto insurance, student car insurance, used car

Reader’s Question:

Why would car insurance companies look at it differently if I modify my car here in Champaign, Illinois? Will my insurance rates go up once I decide to do that?

Terrence

Champaign, IL

Car insurance companies might look at it differently if you modify your car there in Champaign, Illinois. Even something that is basic as a modification of the body would leave one considering the connotations that would come from the changes, such as the way the vehicle looks like on the roads and how it would be considered by other drivers. Your current car insurance company might not give coverage for a modified car, especially at the time of a collision. You have to talk with your car insurance agent first if you’d like to modify your vehicle and discuss the probabilities that could come from such actions.

On the other hand, your car insurance company may also still be willing to give coverage for an additional protection at a justifiable rate. Car insurance policies and premium rates are different from one company to another, but in most cases, there are several policies that could consider any type of modifications you make to a car’s overall worth. Some car insurance providers could charge you a whole lot more so it’s in your best interest to find other companies and check if they could give you premiums that cost less than others do.

Tags: car, car insurance, car insurance company, car insurance rate

Reader’s Question:

I have to admit that it’s not easy having a DUI charge here in Chicago, Illinois. How important is having a DUI lawyer to help me in my case?

Ray

Chicago, IL

You have to keep in mind that DUI is one of the few crimes that a person could be convicted solely on the opinion of the police officer. Even if most DUI offenses are classified as misdemeanors, the penalties for it are generally much more serious. If you choose to hire a DUI lawyer to help you in your DUI case in Chicago, Illinois, you need an experienced DUI lawyer to represent you in your DUI case to make sure that you get the best possible defense you can.

In hiring a DUI lawyer, there are certain things that you need to take note of to ensure that you get the best quality. The DUI lawyer should be up-to-date on the practices and guidelines in a DUI defense in Illinois. You need a lawyer who attends seminars presented by the National College for DUI Defense and have spent time learning advanced DUI Defense tactics from some of the leading DUI lawyers in the country. The DUI lawyer should also be willing to fight for your case not just a lawyer who will plead you out. Best of all, an experienced DUI lawyer is actually the one who could be able to save your job, driver’s license and freedom.

Tags: driver’s license, DUI, DUI lawyer

Reader’s Question:

I was charged with DUI in Chicago, Illinois and I was advised that I should get a DUI lawyer. But why would I get a DUI lawyer that I need to pay when I can get a Public Defender for free?

Finley

Chicago, IL

By the very nature of Chicago, Illinois Public Defenders, they tend to juggle numerous cases across a broad spectrum of crimes. They might not be prepared for all technicalities, scientific aspects and delicate intricacies regarding complications of a DUI case. You also need to prove impoverishment for you to qualify for the services of a Public Defender, who will be assigned to a specific courtroom to manage all of the cases that day for the impoverished defendants who did not retain a lawyer to represent them in court.

Your DUI case would just be one of many. Hiring a private DUI lawyer who devotes his or her entire practice in defending DUI cases will provide you with the most experienced and qualified legal defense when you are facing the serious implications of drunk driving charges. A Specialized DUI lawyer would not allow you to plead guilty, rather, will thoroughly investigate your case and he or she would be in the courtroom for the sole purpose of defending you.

Tags: DUI, DUI advice, DUI lawyer

Reader’s Question:

I am an occasional drinker and when I drink, I usually just drive myself home. I have never been charged with DUI here in Joliet, Illinois, but if I will be caught drunk driving, what do I stand to lose?

Clay

Joliet, IL

If you are a drinker, it’s a good thing that you want to know what you stand to lose by driving drunk. To know why this is such a bad idea is essential to help you plan before you head out to party and drink and drive yourself home.

In the state of Illinois, the legal limit for blood alcohol content (BAC) is .08 percent. If you are caught in Joliet, Illinois with a BAC that is higher than the limit, you could lose your license, head to jail, or be asked to perform community service. Of course, you will have to pay fines for a DUI offense. Education and alcohol treatment may also be a requirement and you will have to pay for these classes and assessments.

If you lose your driving privileges, you would have to do several things before you can get it back. First, you would have to pay a steep fine on top of the fines that you have already paid and you would have to complete an alcohol education course in order to get it back.

If you get your license back, you would have to prove that you are insured but your insurance company may also drop your coverage. You can find another insurance provider to cover you, but it would be expensive. You will be tagged as a ‘high risk’ driver if you have a DUI offense, thus insurance companies may charge high premiums. So with that said, it would be far better to avoid the DUI at all costs than to deal with these expenses.

Reader’s Question:

When the Illinois officer stopped me one time when I was driving I noticed that the officer made me to follow a penlight with my eyes to the left and right? Why is that?

Elena

Chicago, IL

Hi Elena, the test that the police officers performed when they stopped you in Illinois is called the horizontal gaze Nystagmus test. For quite sometime, Illinois police officers have utilized definite voluntary tests to decide probable intoxication of drivers stopped on suspicion of a DUI. The tests mottled widely in the past. No research was accessible to establish the fairness of these tests in knowing the level of intoxication. The Illinois National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration explored these tests in 1977 and 1981 and determined a satisfactory test that could fairly dependable to know a driver’s intoxication level.The Nystagmus test is a practically a recent improvement in DUI investigation. The Louisiana police officer will make an effort to make an educated guess the position at which the eye begins to jerk; if this happens sooner than forty five degrees, it hypothetically designates a blood alcohol level over .05%. The smoothness of the eye’s tracking the penlight is also a factor, as is the kind of jerking when the eye is as distant to the side as it can go.This field sobriety test has established to be questioned to a number of different harms, not the slightest of which is the non-medically skilled officer’s skill to be familiar with Nystagmus and calculate approximately the angle of onset. Because of this, and the reality that the test is not established by the health community, it is not allowable in many states; it is, still, allowable in Illinois.

Reader’s Question:

I was charged with DUI here in Illinois two days ago. I refused to take any blood alcohol test. I was advised by a friend about the 10-day rule before they could even suspend my license. What happens if I am unable to do this?

Lisa

Chicago, IL

Thanks for asking, Lisa.

In the state of Illinois, if the driver refused to a blood alcohol test, or if submitted and have a breathalyzer result of 0.08 or higher for age 21 or more, .04 or higher if driving a commercial vehicle, or .02 or higher if under age 21, the state will attempt to suspend your license for one to five years. In most case, this attempt to take away your right to drive will occur before trial. This would be automatically entered against you unless you file an “appeal” letter within 10 business days after the date of your arrest.

You will have an administrative driver’s license suspension for one to five years before you even go to trial on your DUI offense if you don’t request a hearing. You have a fighting chance to keep driving until your DUI case comes to court if you were able to request the hearing.

Reader’s Question:

My 20-year old teenager son just received a DUI in Illinois for the first time. How will this affect my insurance rate and his since his insurance is also under my policy with him as driver?

Pam

Chicago, IL

Too bad for you, but DUI is a serious offense in Illinois and is classified as a violent crime. Unfortunately, this offense will permanently remain on his driving record. He may lose his driving privileges and can either be imprisoned or fined.

This offense is also taken very seriously by any insurance company since the driver becomes a risk to them compared to a person with a clean driving record. This would likely increase his rate which can affect the whole policy, including your premium rates.

A DUI can subject yours to high-risk auto insurance rates for three years according to the Illinois Secretary of State. The IL SOS DUI Fact Book states that high risk insurance for a driver convicted of DUI averages an additional $1500 per year!

However, since insurance companies rating systems are not the same, it is better that you find out more from your insurance agent as to how much the increase will be and for how long.

READER QUESTION:

What are things I should consider when i am looking into hiring an Illinois DUI attorney?

Marisol

GOOD QUESTION, MARISOL.

The first question I would confront the lawyer with with when you step into their office is: “Will you be handling my case, or are you going to delegate it to someone else?” It’s extremely important for you to hold your consultation with the person who will actually be representing you, so that you can correctly evaluate their abilities. If you’ll be represented by someone other than the consultee, you’re just wasting your time.

On a similar note, experience is one of the number one things you should focus on, and particularly in the area of DUI, and even more narrowly in the type of DUI case you have. Just because your lawyer is a couple of decades out of law school doesn’t mean they know their stuff in this are–they may have been practicing divorce law all that time.

Secondly, you should keep in mind how you relate to the lawyer and also the fees involved. You should get your fees in a written fee agreement so that you can assess them beforehand.

–Fashun.

READER QUESTION:

What extra Illinois DUI lawyer costs might I have to deal with?

Princeton

EXCELLENT QUESTION.

Many people factor in, obviously, the flat fee when they are budgeting for a lawyer without realizing that there are additional Illinois DUI lawyer costs. Here are some that you may need to be aware of.

• fees for printing, faxing, etc., and employing those who do this
• for hiring someone to take down testimonials and interviews in shorthand
• for delivering legal paperwork to witnesses
• for costs of travel
• for investigation
• for court filing and related fees
• for jury, if so requested
• for witnesses
• for consultation

Rather than just jump in the water with all your clothes on, discuss all of the potential Illinois DUI lawyer costs at your very first meeting so that you can decide which ones might be necessary in your case, which ones you can avoid, and whether the amount your laywer charges for such fees is worth keeping them.