Champaign County DUI Lawyer
Getting pulled over for a DUI is a heart-stopping moment. When the lights go on in your rearview mirror, your future might flash in front of your eyes—jail, fines, and possibly the loss of your license. What happens if your boss finds out that you were driving from a bar to get home?
At Patel Law, PC, we represent anyone accused of drunk driving. Illinois law harshly penalizes those believed to be driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, so you need an experienced attorney to assist you. Contact our firm today to speak with a Champaign County DUI lawyer who can guide you through the legal process and fight for your future.
Illinois DUI Penalties for a First Offense
The penalties you face for a DUI conviction will depend on the circumstances. However, if your blood alcohol concentration is 0.08, or if you are unable to drive safely due to drugs or alcohol, then you can be convicted. Under the law, a 0.08 BAC is only one way to show you were intoxicated. In reality, you can face DUI charges even if you refuse a breathalyzer test.
A first-time offender without aggravating factors faces Class A misdemeanor charges. The penalties are up to a year in county jail and a $2,500 fine. You will lose your driver’s license for a year, and the state will suspend your vehicle registration. It can be very hard to go to work or school in these situations.
Many of our clients have aggravating factors which will increase the penalties they face:
- You had a child in the vehicle with you when arrested
- Your BAC was much higher than 0.08%
- You injured someone while driving intoxicated
- Someone died as a result of your drunk driving
- You injured someone in a school zone while intoxicated
Many of those convicted of these aggravated DUI offenses will face mandatory time in jail, as well as longer suspensions and the installation of an ignition interlock device (IID). There is no way around it. However, Patel Law can try to minimize the amount of time you serve. And if this is your first offense, we can argue to the judge that no time in jail is necessary to protect public safety or to punish you.
A DUI arrest is not a conviction. There is still time to fight to retain your ability to drive to work or school. An experienced attorney will review your case to settle on the best defense, which might include:
- Unconstitutional stop or search
- Reasonable doubt
- Lack of evidence of intoxication or impairment
- Lack of evidence of aggravating factors
Our DUI Attorneys Are Here for You
This is probably an unnerving time. Many questions are probably swirling in your head about whether others will find out about this embarrassing event, such as your employer. Please contact our Champaign County, Illinois DUI lawyer. We can discuss the possible penalties you are facing and whether a plea deal is the best chance of success.
