Drunk Driving in Illinois? Avoid Conviction!

Reader’s Question:

I have so many friends here in Cicero, Illinois who often drive drunk and I’m just afraid they might get into an accident and face DUI. How would I approach someone I know who is too drunk to drive?

Dahlia

Cicero, IL

Approaching a friend who is trying to drive drunk is one of the hardest things to do. But you can definitely intervene to avoid an accident and a DUI charge in Cicero, Illinois. You can try the direct approach, but this would probably not work with a friend who is very drunk, but it won’t hurt to try. You can ask for your friend’s keys and offer to drive or call a cab. Sometimes it would just take someone pointing out the obvious for the person to admit the problem.

You may also offer a diversion by suggesting you grab a bite to eat before heading home. This would work best if there is a place to get food within walking distance, but if not, you can still offer to drive. The food that you eat could sober your friend up, or at least provide you more time to convince him not to drive home. You can also try to explain to your friend the penalties that would be involved if he will be caught drunk driving, such as fines, possible jail time, probation, etc. DUI can also have an adverse effect on his auto insurance as it will definitely go up. Worse, he might just have someone injured or killed and he could also probably kill himself if he gets into an accident caused by drunk driving.

Should I Just Plea Guilty to My DUI Charge in Illinois?

Reader’s Question:

I was lead in to the assumption that DUI cases could not be won that’s why I am thinking of just pleading guilty to my DUI charge here in Joliet, Illinois. Would it better if I do just that rather than fighting my case?

Floyd

Joliet, IL

The assumption that DUI cases could not be won should be entirely disregarded, and don’t ask why. Just kidding. I understand that you may think that DUI is a very complicated matter and there’s no way out of it. That’s just normal but there are a lot of things that you should consider before you plead guilty on your DUI case in Illinois. There are certain things that are at stake here such as your driving privileges and your freedom, not to mention having insurance rates increase and the fees that you will pay. Don’t lose these things without putting up a good fight because you would never really know what happens next.

There are a lot of challenges that could be brought out by a good DUI defense lawyer in order for you to win your DUI case. The DUI lawyer could start at the location of the arrest, to the field sobriety tests, to having you in custody, to the chemical tests, to your detention and so on and so forth. Think about these things before giving up a lot of things and just plead guilty to your DUI charge.

Talk to a DUI attorney NOW!

What Is The Best DUI Defense To Take in Illinois?

Reader’s Question:

I watch and read news everyday and I noticed that cases of DUI are increasing here in Illinois. This makes me very much curious to know certain things about DUI cases. What are the possible defenses in a DUI case that can make a defendant win his/her case?

Echo

Waukegan, IL

There are several defenses in a DUI case in Waukegan, Illinois that can be brought up during the DUI trial which can make the defendant win his/her DUI case. First and foremost an illegal stop of the person or the vehicle is one of the biggest defenses that a DUI defense lawyer needs to prove for the defendant to walk away a free man after the DUI trial. A motorist can’t be asked to stop unless the officer has a reasonable and articulate basis to believe that a traffic law or other law has been violated. Likewise, an individual could not be seized unless a violation has occurred.

On a similar note, if a driver was weaving inside the lanes, this is not illegal and cannot be considered a reason for a DUI stop because weaving without crossing any lines is not a violation of the law. Another thing that can be considered as an illegal stop would be from an anonymous report of drunk driving. A person or a vehicle can’t be stopped simply because an anonymous citizen reported that the driver was drunk. These are just examples of DUI defenses during a DUI arrest which, if proven, can be a great help for the DUI defendant.

What To Look For When Hiring a Illinois DUI Lawyer?

Reader’s Question:

I’m in search for a DUI lawyer who would help me in my DUI case here in Illinois and I’m thinking about starting it online. What are the things that I should remember when doing my search for DUI lawyer?

Florence

Bolingbrook, IL

Hiring a DUI lawyer to help you on your DUI case in Illinois would have the biggest impact on your DUI case and your future. Getting a DUI lawyer could be the best thing you’ll ever do so make sure that you hire the right one.

Avoid those law firm websites that talk about their team approach, but do not list any lawyer other than the owner of the law firm. If the lead lawyer in the firm is not confident enough in his lawyers to put their names and faces on the firm’s website, what does that say about the lead lawyer or firm? The more questions are raised, the better protected you will be. You also have to watch out for those lawyers who advertise that they will beat any other law firm’s rate because I’m sure, you don’t want a lawyer or firm who will bargain for your business because that means they are willing to take any case. If that is acceptable with you, you must your expectations accordingly. But I strongly suggest that don’t trust your case to the lowest bidder

Chicago Illinois DUI Lawyer -Or Free Public Defender?

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.

Illinois DUI Lawyer For Teen Driver

Reader’s Question:

My 17-year old son was arrested a little over a week ago and was charged with DUI here in Illinois. What is the underage drunk driving law here in Illinois? Will my son go to jail? Should I hire a DUI lawyer to fight the charge?

Jerome

Rockford, IL

Drinking and driving is a high risk proposition for someone under the age of 21. Even if the blood alcohol content (BAC) is under the legal limit of .08 percent that only applies to drivers over the age of 21.

In the state of Illinois, your son might be facing a harsh sentence. If he will be convicted with DUI, he will face consequences for his actions.

His driver’s license will be revoked for a minimum of two years but he may be issued a restricted license after one year. He may be fined up to $2500 and will serve a jail sentence of up to one year. He may also be directed to join a Youthful Intoxicated Driver’s Visitation Program.

The sentence may seem unpleasant for someone who is under 21 but the law aims the threat of losing the freedom to drive for two years would convince people under 21 to not drink and drive.

Illinois DUI Charge For First Offense – What Will Happen Next?

Reader’s Question:

I was charged with DUI here in Illinois. This is my first offense and I swore that this would never happen again. Do I have high chances of winning my case? Will my record ever be clear again?

Noah

Waukegan, IL

A DUI charge in Illinois does not necessarily lead to automatic convictions because there may be weaknesses in the state’s case against you. Potential DUI challenges may include challenging your initial arrest, your blood alcohol test results, your questioning and the testimony of the arresting officer. Your Illinois DUI lawyer could help you get out of the courtroom clear. But if in any case that you do not win the case, your lawyer could be able to plea bargain for a lesser charge or a less severe penalty.

Should you be convicted of DUI, you can clear your record by seeking a new trial following your DUI conviction. If you are later found not guilty on your second trial, your conviction will be cleared and the legal effect is that as if you were never convicted. If in any case that you don’t win your second trial, you are eligible to appeal your DUI conviction.

Driving a car in Illinois without Auto Insurance

Reader Question

My car just broke before I went to work, because I will be late for work, I asked my boyfriend if I could borrow his car and of course he agreed. However, since I was in a hurry, I bumped into a parked car. Both the parked car and the car of my boyfriend were damaged. I called up my boyfriend and he told me the bad news that his car does not have any car insurance.

I would like to know if it is possible that my car’s auto insurance policy will cover the damage done to the parked car.

Sally, Chicago IL

Sally dear,

You have engaged yourself into a complicated situation and it seems there is a slight chance of getting out of that mess.

Your idea of having your policy stepping in and eventually pay for the damages to the parked car that you hit, would now depend on how your policy was worded. Try to check your policy. In your policy, if you can read this line, exclusion for vehicles ‘available for your regular use’, you may be screwed up.

As to your boyfriend’s car, your policy will not cover for the damage done. Your insurance policy excludes any damages done to non-owned vehicles, which are under your care, custody and control.

In the state of Illinois and like any other states in the US, it is illegal to drive without insurance. Therefore, if the owner of the car that you bumped or the insurance company will not be paid for the damage done, what they can do is report the matter to the Illinois Secretary of State office and what is worst you and/or your boyfriend will face sanctions such as fines or even revocation of your driver’s license.

AV rated Illinois DUI attorney

READER QUESTION:

Is it better to get an AV rated Illinois DUI attorney?

Marisa

Thanks for your question, Marisa.

An AV rated Illinois DUI attorney has a lot of things conferred to them. The rating means that they are respected within the lawyer community, as well as by customers. They have a limited or zero history of screw ups. They are extremely knowledgeable in the area of law which they practice. They have a high success rate. And so on. And so on.

The benefits of hiring an AV rated Illinois DUI attorney are enormous, because you are dealing with a person who can perform a very subtle and intelligent navigation of the legal DUI minefield. One of the problems is that AV rated attoneys have the luxury of being able to charge more for their services, and so they are out of reach for a lot of people.

There are certain ways you can control this cost. Most lawyers don’t require a lump sum, but have you pay your bill by month. If your lawyer is charging you by each hour of work, you can also work together with him/her to have them contact you whenever more work is required, so that you are always conscious of how much you’re spending and can veto any extra work.

–Fashun.

Hiring an Illinois DUI Attorney – What Should I Consider?

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.

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