Right before we dive into this piece, here’s a scenario to imagine: you are enjoying a Labor Day barbecue at your best friend’s home and, as the clock strikes midnight, you decide to head back to your home in Highland Park.
You drive for twenty minutes before seeing a police car. The police car slowly drives past you and then turns around to pull you over.
Within the span of twenty minutes, you have been charged with a DUI. You don’t know what will come from this DUI or what is going to happen as a result. There is one thing you do know, though: you need an attorney.
By going over how a Labor Day DUI will affect your life and speaking with a Chicago DUI defense attorney, it may be easier for you to obtain the legal outcome you need.
How Can A Labor Day DUI Make Your Life Worse?
A Labor Day DUI can affect your life in a multitude of ways, some of which can be found below:
- If you get a DUI, your license will be suspended for at least one year.
- Your first DUI conviction could lead to one year in jail.
- Your first DUI conviction could lead to you being ordered to pay a $2,500 fine.
- If you are unable to drive, you may not be able to get to work, shop, or do what you need to do.
Outside of the above, there is something else: driving while under the influence is a crime in Illinois and, because of this, your DUI conviction will lead to a criminal record.
A criminal record can make it very difficult for you to get a job, obtain certain kinds of housing, and obtain the licensing you may need to get the job/career you need.
What Is The Long-Term Impact Of A DUI?
The long-term impact of a DUI tends to vary based on the facts of your life. Even so, the following can happen if you are convicted of a DUI:
- You may not be able to drive to your job, which could lead to you losing your job. This could lead to financial precarity, among other possibilities.
- Many jobs require reliable transportation and, without the use of your driver’s license, you may not be able to get the job you need.
- Spending any amount of time in jail can lead to life-long trauma. Trauma, of any sort, can make it much harder for you to enjoy life, do what you need to do to achieve your goals, and be happy.
- The costs associated with a DUI can extend far beyond the fine; you may need to deal with heavy court costs and attorney’s fees, among many other things.
Every single one of the outcomes clarified above is a possibility. The likelihood of you being forced to endure these outcomes can be reduced with the help of a good DUI defense attorney.
Get Qualified Legal Help Today
When facing a DUI charge, 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 is 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 Chicago DUI defense team today and learn how decades of trusted experience can protect what matters most to you.