Illinois DUI

Any person(s) who are caught driving in Illinois with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent or more, which is the level at which a person is too impaired to drive, will be charged with an Illinois DUI charge. Alcohol is still the most common factor in highway injuries and deaths. Only seven percent of vehicle accidents involve the use of alcohol, yet an astounding forty one percent of fatal car crashes are alcohol related.

Over the years research has shown that the states with a 0.08 percent blood alcohol content law have experienced a decline in alcohol related crashes, injuries, and most importantly, deaths. One of the reasons for the decline is that the 0.08 percent law makes motorists, even repeat drunk driving offenders, a little more reluctant to get behind the wheel and drive. Experts have estimated as many as sixty five lives each year can be saved in Illinois while thousands of injuries are prevented, all due to the 0.08 percent law.

A first or second time Illinois DUI charge is most often charged as a misdemeanor, not a felony. A third time Illinois DUI charge or if a person is injured or suffered great bodily harm, the defendant will most likely be charged with a felony.

If you are convicted of an Illinois DUI your driver’s license is automatically revoked and you may receive penalties of up to 364 days in jail and/or fines of up to $2,500. If you are convicted of your first Illinois DUI charge your driver’s license will be revoked for a period of one year, for your second Illinois DUI it is five years if the two offenses are within a twenty year time period, and a ten year driver’s license suspension for a third or subsequent Illinois DUI offense.

If you are under the age of twenty one at the time of your Illinois DUI conviction your driver’s license will be revoked for a minimum of two years, this is in regards to your first DUI. For a second DUI conviction it is five years or until you turn twenty one, whichever is longer, and ten years for a third and any subsequent DUI offenses. If you are able to meet the conditions that have been set by the Secretary of State you can apply and receive a restricted driving permit. It is good for one year, and allows driving between the hours of 5am and 9pm. After the one year period you can apply for your regular drivers license, however, keep in mind that there is no guarantee you will get one. If you received a second DUI within twenty years the same criminal penalties apply. Your license will be revoked and you cannot apply for another one for five years. You may also be sentenced to forty eight hours in jail or ten days of community service. If you are convicted a third time, a class 4 felony, you can be sentenced to up to three years in prison and given a fine up to $25,000, you will lose your license and will not be able to apply for another one for a period of ten years. If convicted of a fourth Illinois DUI offense you can be sentenced to three years in prison, given a fine of up to $25,000, and you will never legally be allowed to drive again.

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 09 September 2008 04:19 )

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