Illinois Auto Insurance Canceled After DUI Charge?

Reader’s Question:

Is it true that my mom’s car insurance can be canceled because of her DUI charge here in Des Plaines, Illinois?

Val

Des Plaines, IL

Most of the state laws regarding insurance specifically spell out the circumstances under which a car insurance company can cancel a policy. There are certain grounds for cancellation of car insurance and the most common are:

-you or a member of the household loses driving privileges during the policy period because of license expiration, suspension or revocation
-you fail to pay the premium on time
-you misrepresent material facts about your risk – which means your driving history, claims history or the number of people who have access to your vehicle.

In your mom’s DUI case if her driver’s license is suspended or revoked, this can be a ground for the cancellation of her car insurance. This can be very inconvenient for her so if her car insurance gets canceled, she needs to get another car insurance provider right away. Luckily, she can definitely get great car insurance it will just be a little harder to find, and the rates will obviously be a little higher, but don’t give up hope.  Clean up her act, and the rates will eventually go back down over time.

Illinois DUI Case Going to Trial – How Long Will It Take?

Reader’s Question:

I just wonder how long it will take if I fight my DUI case here in Illinois. I am thinking that I just work out a deal rather than going to trial to get this over and done with. Is it true that a DUI trial could take months?

Zaire

Berwyn, IL

Yes, if you take your DUI case in Berwyn, Illinois to trial in front of either a judge or a jury, it would take you some number of months. There could be two or three court dates before a trial, which would probably be six months out. It could take a total of six months to a year for the case to be resolved for a jury trial. There is a possibility to skip preliminary motions and schedule a bench trial immediately in some circumstances. This would usually limit your DUI defense options so it does have disadvantages but it could give you a chance to resolve the case in two months or less.

If you work out a deal rather than going to trial, it would be very likely that you can have the minimum penalty available under the law. Your DUI case would be continued without a finding for one year. The judge would suspend your license for 45 days (consecutive with the six-month breath test refusal or 90-day failure suspension), and you would pay a number of fees and fines. The conditions of your probation would be that you attend and complete the alcohol education program.