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.

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.

Illinois Teen Driver Drunk Driving Penalties

Reader’s Question:

I’m very much furious but at the same time very much concerned because my teenage son was arrested for DUI for the first time in Oak Park, Illinois. I wonder if the penalties for teenage drunk driving are the same for those over 21 years of age convicted of DUI. What are the penalties for teenage DUI in Illinois?

Dahlia

Oak Park, IL

It’s very alarming that more and more teenagers are consuming alcohol, more so being involved in drunk driving. Teenagers are more likely the swaggering type for their “I can handle it” syndrome. They think that they can handle their alcohol consumption and say that they haven’t had enough to seriously impair them. Perhaps we could blame it on the greatest influence on teenagers and their drinking and driving which is peer pressure. Peer pressure is a very powerful force that’s why teens feel that it is very important for them to know that they’re “in.” It’s also a saddening fact that the average college student actually spends more money for alcohol than for books.

Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for teens that’s why even the legal consequences of underage drinking and driving are getting tougher. Since your teenage son was arrested for his first DUI in Oak Park, Illinois, don’t be surprised that Illinois DUI laws would be hard on him if he will be convicted. For first underage DUI conviction, penalties include loss of full driving privileges for a minimum of two years. He could also be imprisoned for up to one year and could pay maximum $2,500 in fines.

Illinois DUI Effects After Conviction?

Reader’s Question:

We’re very much worried about my son’s DUI arrest here in Illinois as he was driving home from work. We all understand he is facing a complicated case. Aside from the penalties involved, what could be the lasting effect of DUI on him if he will be convicted?

Kael

Palatine, IL

It is no hidden secret that your son may lose his driver’s license and car after his DUI arrest in Illinois. If he will be convicted for DUI, the possible long lasting effect of it would be on is job. Think of DUI penalties as a domino effect. The judge will assign your son with so much community service that he may be forced to take time off from work. He may be wasting time picking off litter off the highway when he could be closing a deal at work. And as he is taking time off from work, he is making less money.

If he can’t afford to pay bail, his employer may feel bad about him spending time in jail and would not take that very well. Losing his driver’s license is not where the worries end. He now has to find new transportation to get to work and earn a living. He might not be that popular with his friends and co-workers if they are driving him everywhere. At this point, you have to find a DUI lawyer who would fight for your son not only to get him out of jail and pay fines, but also to save his job.