You are at the bar on the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving. You’re having fun and enjoying a few drinks. And, then, you take off from the bar and begin driving at home.
Right before you reach home, you hear the slow siren of a police car. You pull over and are asked to conduct a field sobriety task, which you are unable to do. Then, you are asked to conduct a blood alcohol test at the station.
Your blood alcohol level is .08. And, with that, you are hit with a DUI charge, the results of which will greatly affect the next year of your life.
You are not a drunk driver. You are certainly not a criminal. But, if you have received a DUI in Illinois on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, then you must be aware of the consequences. As a result, do not delay in speaking with a Chicago DUI defense lawyer at Glasgow & Olsson.
What Is A DUI?
Right before we clarify what can happen if you receive a DUI, we must go over what a DUI actually is. And, in its simplest form, a DUI – or “Driving Under The Influence” – is an offense that involves one of the following:
- Driving while under the influence of alcohol.
- Driving while under the influence of a controlled substance.
Regarding the latter, one example would be marijuana. Someone who is found to be driving while high on marijuana can be charged with a DUI.
Outside of the above points, a DUI, as a criminal offense, comes with its own set of charges.
Every single one of the charges that make up a DUI is dependent on one’s blood alcohol level, who else was in the car, as well as whether or not they have any previous DUIs.
What Happens If You Receive A DUI?
A variety of consequences can, and likely will, arise if you receive a DUI.
Some of the most notable consequences that can arise if this is your first DUI are as follows:
- You can receive a six-month license suspension.
- You can be hit with a jail sentence of up to one year.
- You can be hit with a fine of no more than $2,500.
None of these consequences are fun. But, even though you are not a criminal and made a small mistake, the legal system can treat you like one.
Outside of the consequences outlined above, if this is your second or subsequent DUI, then you can be hit with:
- A suspension of your license for three years.
- A fine of up to $250,000.
- A prison sentence of up to 30 years.
The consequences become more and more serious if you have had greater numbers of previous DUIs.
How Can An Attorney Help?
Even though you are not a criminal, you need to work with a lawyer if you want to beat your DUI charge.
The act of working with a lawyer will allow you to:
- Contest the facts of the case.
- Demonstrate the flawed ways in which the police obtained evidence against you.
- Show the court that you are not a criminal and have no intent of driving under the influence again.
- Obtain the best possible legal outcome.
Some of the above may not be applicable, but no matter what, a lawyer will help you obtain the best possible legal outcome.
Obtain Qualified Legal Help Today
You made a small mistake on one of the best nights of the year. And as a result of this, the next year of your life is in jeopardy.
But, fortunately, it doesn’t have to be.
If you need legal representation for a DUI charge in Cook County, Glasgow & Olsson is uniquely qualified to help. When you need an attorney experience matters, contact our DUI defense lawyers today to learn how our experience can get you the results you deserve.