DUI Field Sobriety Tests in Illinois

Reader’s Question:

If in case I am stopped for DUI in Arlington Heights, Illinois, what do you think I should do if a police officer asks me to watch his pen or do physical agility tests?

Herman

Arlington Heights, IL

You have to remember that if you are stopped for DUI in Arlington Heights, Illinois, you don’t have an obligation whatsoever to submit to any physical tests like watching a pen, walking a line or balancing on one leg. There would be no legal penalty for refusing these kinds of tests. The officer might tell you that you will be arrested if you refuse to do the tests and don’t fall for a line like that. You could be arrested when you refuse, but the police officer has already decided to arrest you before he asked you to do the tests. It could help a lot in your DUI defense if you politely and respectfully decline the tests prior to consulting with a lawyer.

Regardless of how well you might think you would do on the tests, you would learn you failed the tests. Even police officers who have already done the tests hundreds of times fail to administer the tests by the book. If the police officer asks you to perform the tests for him, politely tell the officer that you should speak to a lawyer before deciding if you would perform any test the officer might ask you.

Convicted of Drunk Driving In Illinois?

Reader’s Question:

I know someone who has been charged with DUI here in Illinois. He’s in trial right now and by the looks of it, he will be convicted but he’s lawyer is doing everything to at least shorten the jail time and reduce the fines. I wanna make sure that the same thing will not happen to me. I don’t deny that I have been drunk or maybe drove under the influence of alcohol once or twice. What advice could you give me if I will be caught drunk driving?

Jackie

Springfield, IL

It is unlawful to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs in Illinois. It is strongly advised that people should not drive alone while in an intoxicated condition. Drivers who are caught doing this are charged with a criminal offense. It is very important that you know what to do if you are stopped by a patrol officer on a DUI suspicion.

In case you can’t avoid drinking and getting behind the wheel, you should have a favorable witness along with you in your car. Eye drops should be applied to mask bloodshot eyes, which strongly imply a person’s drunken condition. If you will be caught drunk driving, you should not take a portable breath test or any field sobriety tests (FST) while in an intoxicated condition because you are not required by law to do so. You should also indicate that you are confused about your legal rights. You should be advised by the officer to ask for a lawyer before questioning and after Miranda warnings are given. You should not information as to how much you have been drinking and what you were drinking. All implied consent warnings should be fully read to you by the police officer. You should also be polite and courteous regardless of how rude a police officer may be towards you. While blowing into the Breath analyzer, you should not blow hard because blowing hard may reflect a higher than normal reading.

Lastly, if in any unavoidable circumstance that you will be charged with DUI, make sure that you consult and hire an experienced Illinois DUI lawyer to give you detailed advice, to represent you, and to make sure everything will be done for you to avoid serving in jail and hefty fines.

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.

Springfield Illinois DUI Attorney – Do You Need One?

At other times, when you are faced with the possibility of needing to hire a Springfield DUI attorney, the options may not be entirely clear. Still, in many cases it is best if you take the safest route and go ahead and hire a lawyer. When you have a doubt, better go out and get representation.

Reasons why you’re probably going to need a DUI attorney.

• while the consequences for a second DUI arrest are not quite as heavy as those for a third or a fourth or a fifth, they’re still a long stretch away from whatever consequences you suffered with your first one. If you’re on number two, you most likely need to call up a lawyer.
• if you had a baby in the backseat. When you have someone under 18 driving with you when you’re drunk, then you’re in trouble for endangerment of a minor on top of DUI, and so you’re likely going to need some more help.
• drunk is drunk, but sometimes the drunker you are, the heavier your sentence. If, when you were arrested, your BAC was two times the legal limit, you’re in even deeper waters.

DUI Charge – I Need a Peoria Illinois DUI Attorney

There are time when you have no choice but to hire a Peoria Illinois DUI attorney. By doing anything but this, you are basically setting yourself up for a terrible disaster. Even if you don’t have the money, talk with your DMV and find out what other options you have for representation, because you could suffer quite a bit if you don’t have any.

Why you absolutely need a Peoria IL DUI attorney.

• if you’re face is well known in drunk driving court, then yeah, you’re probably going to need a DUI attorney and a good one. No matter what the particular laws say, in every state the more times you are convicted of driving under the influence, the worse the consequences you will face are.
• you’re DUI may result from something pretty disastrous. If you were driving drunk and got into the car accident, and in this accident someone was injured or, even worse, killed, then you better run to the lawyer’s office. You would need one even if you hadn’t been drunk.
• if losing your license means losing your job, then, well, you can’t risk that, so you need a lawyer to argue the particulars of your case.