DuPage County Drunk Driving Defense Lawyers
If you are convicted for driving under the influence (often called DUI or DWI), you may face harsh penalties. The best way to avoid the penalties? Avoid the conviction.
At the law offices of Michael T. Norris, Ltd. and John W. Callahan, Ltd., we do just that. Our experienced criminal defense attorneys represent people throughout DuPage County and Kane County — helping them achieve the best possible results after an arrest.
Illinois DUI Consequences
In Illinois, penalties for DUI vary depending on the circumstances of your arrest and who you are. Depending on certain factors, the penalties you face may be more or less serious:
- Your age
- Your blood alcohol content (BAC) level
- Whether or not you had a child under age 16 in the car
- Whether you had any previous DUI convictions
A first offense DUI is a Class A misdemeanor. If you are convicted, you may face imprisonment of up to a year and fines of up to $2500. You may also face minimum revocation of driving privileges for a year. These penalties increase if your BAC is .16 or more, or if you have a child under age 16 in the car.
Penalties increase for repeat offenders. If convicted of a second offense, you face a mandatory minimum imprisonment of five days or 240 hours of community service. You may also have your driving privileges revokes for a minimum of five years.
Penalties increase even more with third, fourth, fifth and sixth DUI convictions. These are all considered Aggravated DUI or Felony DUI.
Penalties for Underage Drinking
One of the worst calls a parent can get happens when a son or daughter has been drinking and driving. At the law offices of Michael T. Norris, Ltd. and John W. Callahan, Ltd., we understand what our clients are going through. Our goal is to help them move forward with their lives by avoiding some of the harsh consequences of underage drinking.
You should know that Illinois has a zero-tolerance policy for underage drivers. Any driver under age 21 who has any trace of alcohol in his or her system or who refuses to submit to chemical testing faces strict penalties.
Contact a Criminal Defense Lawyer Today
If you are in legal trouble, talking to a lawyer as soon as possible is the best way to protect your rights. Contact Michael T. Norris, Ltd. and John W. Callahan, Ltd., today. Call us toll free at 1-877-FELONY-3 or contact us online for a free and confidential consultation. Our phones are answered 24 hours a day.
