St. Louis, Illinois DUI Criminal Defense Lawyer

Being arrested for DUI is a serious offense that can have major repercussions, including jail time, loss of driving privileges, and monetary fines. It is important that anyone facing an Illinois DUI understand what challenges they will encounter. Seeking the legal advice of a competent and skilled DUI defense lawyer will help you understand all of your options and rights.

The DUI criminal charge in St. Louis, Illinois is prosecuted and adjudicated in the courts. This charge is separate from the Statutory Summary Suspension, which is an administrative process. A person convicted of an Illinois DUI who lost their driving privileges because of a summary suspension will have that time credited to the minimum driver's license revocation period.

What happens if I was arrested for DUI in St. Louis, Illinois?

Under Illinois law, once you have been cited for violating the DUI statute, the state initiates two simultaneous, yet separate legal actions against you. The criminal action is in response to the ticket that was issued to you, while the administrative action is brought against your driver's license in Illinois by the Secretary of State. While both actions can result in the suspension of your Illinois driving privileges, it is imperative to remember that there may be additional penalties to consider and each action must be handled on their own.

Administrative Hearing

Pursuant to Illinois law, an individual has 90 days to request a hearing to challenge a Statutory Summary Suspension from the Secretary of State. In order to preserve your right to an Administrative Hearing, it is crucial that you submit your request to the Secretary of State within 90 days.

Penalties for First Time DUI Offenders

• Driving Privileges - A DUI conviction results in the revocation of driving privileges for a minimum of 1 year.
• Commercial Drivers - Commercial drivers in Illinois are in violation of the DUI statute with a BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) level of 0.04. A first time DUI conviction will result in the loss of the commercial driver's license for 1 (one) year, while any subsequent Driving Under the Influence (DUI) offenses will result in a lifetime loss of the (CDL) commercial license.
• DUI Monetary Fines - Fines for a first time Driving Under the Influence (DUI) in St. Louis, Illinois can be up to $2,500.
• DUI Chemical Test Refusal - An individual who refuses to submit to a test when requested by Illinois law enforcement will lose their driver's license in Illinois for 1 year.
• Jail Time - A person convicted of a DUI for the first time faces time in jail of up to 1 year.
• Driving Privileges - A DUI conviction results in the revocation of driving privileges for a minimum of 1 year.

Driving Under the Influence - Child Endangerment

(driver over age 21 transporting a child under age 16)

First conviction - Mandatory 6 (six) months time in jail and 25 days of community service in a program benefiting children; loss of driving privileges for minimum 1 year; fines of $1,000-$2,500; eligible for RDP; may be required to have a BAIID installed in vehicle as part of driving relief.

St. Louis, Illinois DUI:

In Illinois, a driver is legally considered to be under the influence if they are impaired by medication, have a blood-alcohol concentration of .08 percent or more, or have used any illegal substance. A driver's BAC is based on the ratio of alcohol to blood or breath. However, an individual showing alcohol levels between .05 and .08 percent may be convicted of DUI if additional evidence determines that the driver was impaired. When the Illinois General Assembly passed legislation in 1997 to lower the illegal BAC limit to .08 percent from .10 percent, Illinois became the 15th state to impose such a change.

Contacting a DWI criminal defense lawyer for a fast, free consultation concerning your Driving Under the Influence (DUI) charge in St. Louis, Illinois can help.