Auto Insurance After DUI in Illinois
Reader’s Question:
I got charged with DUI here in Aurora, Illinois and if I get cleared, will my car insurance rates still increase? If so, how can I avoid an increased rate on my car insurance?
Heriberto
Aurora, IL
Even if you get cleared for your DUI charge in Aurora, Illinois, your car insurance company could still increase your rates, just because you were arrested for DUI. It is actually their right to increase your car insurance rates for the DUI arrest, but it is also your right not to notify them unless you are actually convicted for DUI. To avoid increased car insurance rates, you have to retain a good DUI lawyer after your DUI arrest if you are able to afford one.
You should ask your DUI lawyer as soon as possible on how to avoid increased car insurance rates after a DUI conviction. The DUI lawyer could advise you on what to say to your insurance company and when you have to say it. You also have to understand that you would experience some level of increased car insurance rates unless your DUI case is dismissed. You also have to ask your DUI lawyer about DUI support groups in your area. You could not only gain some comfort by talking with others, but you could also get peer advice for finding good car insurance and coping with financial pressures caused by your DUI charge.
How Important Is It To Have a DUI Lawyer in Chicago Illinois?
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.
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.
DUI Charge – Drivers License Suspension in Illinois?
Reader’s Question:
My brother’s license has been suspended after being arrested for his first DUI in Palatine, Illinois because he failed the blood alcohol test. How long would the suspension last and if he will be convicted for DUI, will he have a separate suspension on his license?
Sheila
Palatine, IL
After your brother’s DUI arrest in Palatine, Illinois for failing the blood alcohol test, his driver’s license is automatically suspended for three months under the Statutory Summary Suspension Law. At the time of his DUI arrest, the officer took his driver’s license and gave him a 45-day temporary license. Since this is his first DUI offense, the three-month suspension would begin on the 46th day after his DUI arrest. With the help of a qualified DUI lawyer, he could appeal to the court to receive a Judicial Driving Permit, which will allow him to drive to and from work and any required education courses he must take as a result of his DUI arrest.
If he will be convicted for the DUI charge, he would have a separate suspension on his driver’s license. In the State of Illinois, he would have a minimum of one year license suspension since this is his first DUI offense. The policy of the Illinois Secretary of State’s office is not to fully reinstate an otherwise eligible motorist until they have first been issued a Restricted Driving Permit (RDP) and drove on it without incident for at least nine months.
Out-Of-State DUI Conviction For Illinois Driver
Reader’s Question:
I live in Naperville, Illinois and I was just convicted for DUI in another state. My driving privileges have been removed from that state. Does my DUI conviction from another state mean that my Illinois driver’s license would be suspended?
Jerome
Naperville, IL
If you’re a resident of Naperville, Illinois, upon the receipt of the report of your DUI conviction from another state, the Illinois Secretary of State would automatically revoke your driver’s license. To avoid a license revocation, any reduction or amendment must be to an offense that would be recognized separately (that is, Reckless Driving) under the Illinois Motor Vehicle Code.
Since your out-of-state DUI case resulted in a conviction, it would usually take several weeks for the report of the conviction to reach the Illinois Secretary of State. But upon the receipt, the Secretary of State would immediately serve a Notice of Revocation upon you by mail. The revocation would be effective normally within a few days of mailing. If you no longer live in the same address listed on your driver’s license, you must change your address directly with the Secretary of State’s Drivers Services Department forthwith as official notices from the Secretary are not forwarded and your failure to actually receive the notice does not affect the validity or effective date of the revocation of your license.
Tags: driver’s license, DUI, DUI lawyer
What Are The Possible DUI Penalties in Illinois
Reader’s Question:
A friend of mine was arrested for DUI in Skokie, Illinois for the first time and from what I know, they have a strong case against him. Could you please educate me on what he could be facing because of his DUI charge, what are the penalties involved?
Aldrin
Skokie, IL
After your friend was arrested for DUI in Skokie, Illinois, he would be facing two different cases; one is an administrative driver’s license suspension that starts automatically, unless appealed and the other one is on the court system. He would need to request for a DMV hearing which should be done quickly after the DUI arrest so that he can be able to appeal against the suspension of his driver’s license. He would also have to make sure that he hires a qualified DUI lawyer to help him with his appeal to ensure that it is received in time and that all of the necessary paperworks are filled in correctly.
If he tries to do all of these by himself, he is risking making a serious mistake and losing his without the chance for appeal. Aside from that, if convicted for DUI, he would have penalties that are truly unacceptable. Since this is his first DUI offense, it would be considered as Class A misdemeanor charge. If he gets convicted, he can expect to have consequences such as fines of up to $2,500, jail time of up to 364 days, potential Victim Impact Program requirement, alcohol evaluation with potential counselling, potential community service and any other consequence deemed necessary by the judge.
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
Possible Illinois DUI Defenses?
Reader’s Question:
My cousin is thinking about getting a DUI lawyer to help him on his DUI charge in Illinois. What are the possible defenses that he can use on his DUI case?
Floyd
Skokie, IL
There are a lot of challenges and defenses that your cousin could use on his DUI case in Illinois. So let’s start with the challenges to the DUI stop. First of all, he can use as a defense that the officer didn’t have a valid reason to pull your cousin over or no police officer actually saw your cousin driving. Another defense is with regard to the challenges on probable cause to arrest your cousin if the officer didn’t have enough reason to arrest and if the officer didn’t use proper technique and graded him unfairly.
Next are the motions to suppress evidence like if the Miranda Fifth Amendment rights were violated and if your cousin was not warned of his implied consent rights. Evidence can also be suppressed if the police officer searched the vehicle illegally and coerced your cousin into performing field sobriety tests. The police officer could have manufactured the evidence and a good DUI lawyer can definitely find out about it.
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