Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol (DUI) is a serious criminal offense in the state of Illinois and offenders are actively sought out by law enforcement authorities. In fact, the Illinois Secretary of State’s office indicates¹ that there were 34,611 DUI arrests through the state in 2013.  The laws regarding DUI in Illinois have grown significantly stricter over the years, reflecting a modern trend throughout the United States. For this reason, people who are caught drinking and driving are often subjected to significant consequences, including probation, fines, the loss of a driver’s license or even jail time. Below is some general information regarding the penalties authorized by Illinois DUI law.² If you would like advice regarding your case, call our office to speak to an attorney today.

1^st Offense

People who are convicted of a 1^st DUI offense are facing a one-year revocation of their driver’s license, a fine of up to $2,500, and one year in jail.

2^nd Offense

People who are convicted of DUI for a second time face much stiffer penalties, including 5 year revocation of their driving privileges, a minimum of five days in jail or 240 hours of community service, fines of up to $2,500, and up to a year in jail.

3^rd Offense

A third DUI conviction can result in in a 10-year loss of your full driving privileges, a minimum of 10 days in jail or 480 hours of community service, fines of up to $5,000, and a maximum of 12 years in jail.

Summary suspension of a driver’s license

A summary suspension of a person’s driver’s license is an administrative driver’s license suspension that is separate from any criminal proceedings regarding a DUI arrest. It can be imposed when a person refuses to submit to chemical testing after being stopped by law enforcement or if he or she fails the chemical test. Fortunately, drivers have the right to challenge the suspension of their driver’s license by requesting a hearing to review the suspension. The issues raised at these hearings can be extremely complicated, so it is advisable for anyone who wishes to challenge his or her license suspension to do so with the assistance of an experienced attorney. Most important, drivers have the right to refuse those tests.

Contact a Southern Illinois DUI defense attorney today to retain legal counsel

Individuals who are accused of drunk driving in Illinois are facing extremely serious legal penalties that can have an adverse effect on nearly every aspect of their lives. Call the Lawler Brown Law Firm at 618-993-2222 to schedule a consultation with one of our Southern Illinois criminal defense lawyers today, who handle DUI & Traffic related cases in Marion, Carbondale, Harrisburg, Mt. Vernon, and all of Southern Illinois.

¹ https://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/pdf_publications/dsd_a118.pdf

² http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=062500050K11-501