DUI In Illinois – What Are The Penalties?

Reader’s Question:

What kind of penalties would I have after I get arrested for a DUI here in Illinois? Thanks!

Suzie

Bloomington, IL

In Illinois, it is a very serious offense to get a DUI or Driving Under the Influence charge. Anyone found guilty would not only face the immediate suspension of their driver’s license, not to mention some very high fines, but could also get in jail depending on the gravity of the DUI offense, like managing to cause an auto accident while drunk. Your auto insurance policy may also become very, very expensive, if not canceled altogether.

So if you do get into a DUI, getting the right DUI auto insurance coverage in Illinois is a crucial part of getting your driver’s license restored. Aside from getting appropriate auto insurance coverage, an authorized auto insurance company would also be the one to file an SR22 form for you to the Illinois Secretary of State office, which is a prerequisite to getting your driving rights reinstated.

You might also notice that a DUI auto insurance policy costs a lot more than your average auto insurance coverage. That’s because a DUI offender represents a big liability to the auto insurance company’s business, so the cost of insuring them is also expensive. However, that doesn’t mean you cant find a relatively affordable DUI auto insurance policy, and the right one can be worth hundreds of dollars a year in savings.

These days all you have to do to locate an affordable DUI auto insurance provider is to go online. With the many dedicated websites allowing free and instant access to the latest rates, and most competitive policies, from auto insurance companies specializing on DUI cases, finding the best-priced policy is now easier than ever.

It would only take minutes of your time to shop and compare auto insurance rates coming from a wider variety of DUI auto insurance companies available. If you do it right, the best policy may just be a few mouse clicks away.

DUI in Illinois? – What Will Happen to My Auto Insurance Rates?

Reader’s Question:

I got convicted of DUI in Illinois and I would like to know what will happen. What will happen to my auto insurance?

James

Chicago IL

Getting arrested and convicted for A DUI or Driving Under the Influence in Illinois is a very serious offense. If found guilty, you not only risk losing your driver’s license and having to pay some very high fines or penalties, you could also do time in jail if the gravity of your DUI offense is severe enough (like causing an auto accident because you were drunk, for example). You may also end up getting your auto insurance policy canceled.

If you find yourself in this boat, getting the right kind of DUI auto insurance in Illinois is one key step to getting yourself back on the road. You would need an authorized auto insurance provider to not only provide you the necessary coverage, but to also file an SR22 form to the Secretary of State’s Office in Springfield, IL. Before you can become eligible to get your driving privileges reinstated.

Don’t be surprised if you notice a DUI auto insurance policy costing two or three times more compared to a regular auto insurance. The nature of the driver, and the high-risk he/she is carrying due to the DUI offense on record, is itself the reason why this kind of auto insurance is a lot pricier than most. However, relatively affordable DUI auto insurance coverage is still out there, and knowing how to get one can save you hundreds of dollars a year.

The best way to get an affordable DUI auto insurance is to be able to get the latest auto insurance rates to compare from, coming from a wide variety of auto insurance providers on the market. The Internet is your most effective tool and resource to accomplish this. With the help of the many dedicated auto insurance websites and portals specializing on DUI cases.

It only takes minutes to get the necessary information you need to find the best DUI auto insurance provider suiting your needs. Take good care of your driving record from now on, as well, to help you get cheaper rates sooner.

I Was Charged With DUI – Arraignment Process in Illinois

Reader’s Question:

I was charged with DUI in Peoria, Illinois and it’s nearing my first court date and I don’t know what would happen. Could you give me an idea as to what should I expect during the arraignment of my DUI case?

MJ

Peoria, IL

If you haven’t hired a DUI lawyer to represent you on your DUI charge in Peoria, Illinois, you would have to attend your arraignment. The date, time and location of your first court meeting are on your ticket or somewhere else in your paperwork. At some point during your arraignment, the judge would ask you to enter a plea to the charges. Then you would have to plead either guilty or not guilty to the DUI charge. Depending on the plea that you would enter, the judge would ask you several questions to determine if you want to waive your constitutional rights, including your right to a speedy jury trial.

If you enter a guilty plea on your DUI charge, the judge would likely pass sentence immediately. The sentence would vary depending on the charges you face, the specific judge assigned to your case and the county you are charged in. At minimum, most DUI cases entail some time in jail or a program that counts as jail, a substantial fine, probation and DUI school.

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.

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 Help

Reader’s Question:

My sister has just been charged with DUI here in Illinois. I have heard so many things about DUI such as all people accused of DUI are guilty, DUI is a minor offense, that any lawyer can defend a person charged with DUI, DUI cases cannot win and that a DUI case is similar to any other case? Which of these things about DUI are true?

Lindsay

Arlington Heights, IL

There many myths surrounding DUI cases at present. If you want your sister to increase her chances of winning her DUI case in Arlington Heights, Illinois, don’t believe in any of these things. It is not true that all people accused of DUI are guilty. It should always be remembered that a person is “innocent until proven guilty.”

It is also definitely not true that DUI is just a minor offense. DUI is a criminal offense that can escalate into a bigger crime, especially when injury or death is the result of an act. DUI can even send the offender to jail.

Regarding what you heard that any lawyer can defend a person charged with DUI, this is actually always not the case. There are many lawyers who specialize in DUI case. They can help your sister better than other lawyers who are just general practitioners of law.

It is also not true that DUI cases cannot win. Please, don’t ever believe this. A good Illinois DUI lawyer can help your sister win her DUI case, provided there is enough evidence to defend her. The last thing that you mentioned that a DUI case is similar to any other case is also not true. A DUI case is being surrounded by different circumstance and requires different types of evidence. The outcome of the case cannot be predicted but a good DUI lawyer can increase your sister’s chances of winning.