Before we go over the best ways to avoid getting a DUI on St. Patrick’s Day, do your best to imagine the following scenario: you are driving back home from a St. Patrick’s Day celebration hosted at your favorite bar.
You are just minutes away from your home in Schaumburg when a police car comes into view. You continue to drive in the safe manner that you were. And yet, this police car turns on its lights, forcing you to pull over.
Just a few minutes after you pull over, you are charged with a DUI, on account of a blood alcohol test you agreed to take. You know this is serious and aren’t sure how this will affect your life.
Going over the best ways to avoid getting a DUI on St. Patrick’s Day and speaking with an experienced Schaumburg DUI defense attorney will help you obtain the verdict you are seeking.
What Happens If You Get A DUI?
If you get a DUI in Illinois, on your first arrest you run the risk of:
- Being forced to pay a fine of up to $2,500.
- Receiving a jail sentence of up to one year.
- Being forced to undergo substance abuse counseling.
- Having your license revoked for at least one year.
- Being ordered to perform 100 hours of community service.
The above can happen if this is your first DUI conviction. If you have been convicted of a prior DUI, there is a very real chance you could be penalized far more heavily.
What Are The Best Ways To Avoid Getting A DUI On St. Patrick’s Day?
The best ways to avoid getting a DUI on St. Patrick’s Day are as follows:
- Uber or Lyft – among other apps – can be used to get a ride home.
- Taking public transportation.
- Assigning a friend or family member to be a designated driver.
- Using a taxi service to get a ride home.
- Avoid drinking alcohol at all – or drink very little, and wait a while before driving home.
The last option is unlikely for someone going to a St. Patrick’s Day celebration. That’s why, if possible, you should arrange for someone sober to drive you home safely. Doing so will prevent you from getting a DUI, even if it means you have to pick up your car later on.
How Can An Attorney Help You?
A good attorney will review your DUI charges and the facts of your case to help you develop a proper and strategic defense.
For example, if you took a breathalyzer test and this led to your DUI charge, your attorney can contest the validity of this test and the reliability of the device used to perform it.
Or, just as another example, if you were pulled over, your attorney can contest this validity. This can allow the case to be thrown out or, at the very least, help you obtain the verdict you deserve.
A DUI conviction is very serious, not only that, DUI law is extremely complex and if you have been charged, you must work with an attorney. Doing so will help you obtain the verdict that you are seeking. This will make it much easier for you to get on with your life.
Get Qualified Legal Help Today
If you need representation for a DUI charge, Glasgow & Olsson is uniquely qualified to help you.
Thomas Glasgow has lectured statewide on DUI practice and law for the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education. He is recognized as an authority in this area of law, and in addition to lecturing, he also writes for the statewide DUI manual. When you need an attorney, experience matters.
Speak with our DUI defense attorneys in Chicago today to learn how our experience can get you the results you deserve.