Right before we begin this guide, imagine that you have just finished a lovely Thanksgiving meal. You are at a close family member’s home and, an hour or so after the meal concludes, you get into your car to head home.
Just minutes before you reach your home in Schaumburg, a police car forces you to pull over. And, mere minutes after doing so, and speaking to the officer, you are charged with driving under the influence.
Going over the ways you can avoid a Thanksgiving DUI and speaking with our Chicago DUI defense lawyers will help you obtain the legal outcome you seek.
What Happens If You Get A DUI?
In most cases, an Illinois DUI will lead to:
- A fine of no more than $2,500.
- Up to one year in jail.
- A one-year license suspension.
If you have had a DUI in the past, you will face:
- A period of at least five days in jail.
- Up to 240 hours of community service, as an alternative to jail.
- A five-year license suspension.
These consequences will make it much harder for you to live the life you have built for yourself.
How Can You Avoid A DUI?
You can avoid a DUI by doing the following:
- Using an app, such as “Uber” or “Lyft,” to get a ride back home.
- Staying at a nearby hotel.
- Relying on public transportation to get back home.
- Staying at a nearby friend’s or family member’s home.
- Walking home.
- Select a designated driver to take you back home.
- Wait until the alcohol is out of your system before going home.
- Contacting a taxi service and having a taxi take you back home.
Every single one of the above will help you avoid a DUI.
What Should You Do If You Were Charged With A DUI?
A DUI is very serious. And, as such, if you have been charged with a DUI, you must work with an attorney who knows how to help you.
Your attorney will go over the facts of your case. By doing so, they will be able to craft a defense strategy that helps you obtain the best possible legal outcome.
Just as an example, if the officer who pulled you over administered a blood test, your attorney could question whether or not this test was administered properly. Or, the validity of the test’s results. Among other possibilities.
The exact defense strategy your attorney will employ is completely dependent on your case. This is part of why working with an attorney is so important: finding the right defense is very difficult, and presenting it is even more so.
Our DUI defense team knows how to help you obtain the DUI outcome you deserve. We fight for every single one of our clients and, if you work with us, we will use our expertise to get you the best possible legal outcome.
Get Qualified Legal Help Today
When facing a DUI charge in Illinois, the quality of your legal representation can shape the course of your life. At Glasgow & Olsson, we don’t just practice DUI defense—we help define it.
Thomas Glasgow is widely recognized as a leading authority on DUI law in Illinois. He lectures statewide for the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education, contributes to the definitive DUI legal manual used by attorneys across the state, and serves as a trusted legal voice on major networks, including ABC, CNN, NBC, CBS, and Fox News.
When your freedom, reputation, and future are on the line, experience, judgment, and respect matter most.
Speak with our Schaumburg DUI defense attorneys today and learn how decades of trusted experience can protect what matters most to you.