A Night Out. A Lifetime Impact.
Memorial Day weekend often begins with celebration, with friends, shared stories, and a few drinks. But if that night ends with flashing lights in your rear-view mirror, the consequences can be profound. A single decision to drive after drinking may result in a DUI, with implications that go far beyond legal fines.
What you do next—and who stands beside you in court—will shape the trajectory of your life.
You take the test and your blood alcohol level registers as being .09 – just a little greater than the legal limit in Illinois. As a result of this, you are charged with a DUI.
Going over what you should prepare for when charged with a DUI on Memorial Day, and speaking with a Chicago DUI defense lawyer, will help you obtain the legal outcome you deserve.
Understanding the Real-World Consequences
If you’re charged with your first DUI in Illinois, you’re facing serious penalties:
- Up to one year in jail
- A fine as high as $2,500
- A minimum one-year suspension of your driver’s license
And while community service may be ordered, the true cost comes in the disruption of your daily life, especially if your job depends on the ability to drive. That suspension isn’t just inconvenient—it’s potentially life-altering.
Outside of the consequences outlined above, you may be forced to perform community service. This is not always guaranteed, yet it is a common sentence.
No matter what happens, if you are convicted of your first DUI, you will, in all cases, have your license suspended for at least one year.
During the one-year period in which your license is suspended, you will be unable to drive at all. And, as such, if your job or daily life relies on driving in any way, your life will get worse.
Even worse, one misstep during this suspension, such as choosing to drive anyway, can escalate the matter, leading to steeper consequences, including jail time and more severe criminal charges.
What Should You Do After Getting Your First DUI?
You should do the following after getting your first DUI:
- Write down everything that happened before and after you were pulled over and charged with a DUI.
- Gather up any documentation connected to this DUI.
- Speak with an experienced DUI defense attorney who has the ability to help you.
Every detail can matter. But it takes seasoned counsel to know how to use those details to your advantage.
Your attorney will develop a defense that engages with the facts of your case. Every case is different, and as a result of this, every defense will be a little different. Whether it’s challenging the legality of the stop, questioning the accuracy of the breath test, or identifying procedural errors, the attorney you choose must know how to exploit weaknesses in the prosecution’s case with precision and confidence.
Why Experience Is the Most Important Asset You Can Retain
DUI charges may seem routine, but no two cases are the same, and no defense should be either. What distinguishes a favorable outcome from a damaging conviction often comes down to the skill and insight of your defense attorney.
At Glasgow & Olsson, we don’t simply defend DUIs—we write the manual on how it should be done.
Thomas Glasgow is recognized statewide as a foremost authority on DUI defense. He teaches other lawyers how to navigate these cases through the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education, contributes to the statewide DUI manual, and is trusted by national media, including ABC, CNN, NBC, CBS, and Fox News.
When your future is on the line, choose a defense attorney whose courtroom presence commands respect—and whose strategies are honed through decades of winning.
Glasgow & Olsson is uniquely qualified to help you if you need representation for a DUI charge.
When you need an attorney, experience matters.
Not All Representation is Equal
There are many lawyers willing to take a DUI case—but few with the pedigree and results of Glasgow & Olsson. We do not position ourselves as the cheapest. We offer something far more valuable: results born from deep knowledge, credibility before the bench, and proven courtroom talent.
When the System Sees You as a Case File, We See You as a Future Worth Protecting
If you’ve been charged with a DUI this Memorial Day, don’t leave your fate to chance—or to inexperience.
Speak with our DUI defense attorneys in Chicago today.