Being accused of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or any kind of intoxicating substance (DUI) is a serious criminal charge. You risk devastating legal consequences that will wreak havoc in many areas of your life. In Illinois, there are stringent penalties for traffic violations, and authorities in Cook and DuPage counties are aggressive in fighting DUI offenders.

If you or a loved one has been arrested on suspicion of DUI, an experienced Lombard DUI lawyer can help you fight your charges and get a favorable outcome. At Dohman Law Group, we offer legal relief and effective criminal defense for DUI charges and any traffic violation and criminal offenses to clients across Northern Chicago. We are prepared to protect your rights and ensure you receive maximum criminal defense representation. To schedule a free initial consultation, call our Lombard DUI criminal defense law firm today at (847) 616-9993.

What Happens to First-Time DUI Offenders in Lombard Illinois?

In Illinois, an individual can be convicted for a DUI for driving or being in “actual physical control” of a vehicle:

• With a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or higher
• While under the influence of alcohol.
• While under the influence of any intoxicating drugs, compounds, or a combination of alcohol, intoxicating compounds, or drugs to an extent, the person can’t drive safely.
• While there’s an amount of controlled substance in the person’s urine. Blood. Or other bodily substance.
• A tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration of 5 nanograms or higher in the blood or 10 nanograms or more in other bodily substances within two hours of driving or being in actual physical control of a car.

In Illinois, the first DUI criminal offense is a class A misdemeanor. A misdemeanor conviction carries:

• A maximum jail sentence of 364 days, and
• Six months in jail if you had a minor in the vehicle.

The fines imposed on first-time DUI offenders are:

• A maximum fine of $2,500;
• A minimum fine of $500 if your blood alcohol content was 0.16% or higher, and 
• A minimum fine of $1,000 if you were transporting a minor.

Community service imposed for first DUI criminal convictions in the following circumstances include:

• A first-time DUI offender whose blood alcohol content was 0.16% or higher is required to complete 100 hours of community service, and
• If you had a minor in the car, you must complete 25 days of community service in a program that’s beneficial to children.

Alongside the statutory summary suspension mentioned above, an individual convicted of a DUI for the first time will face a driver’s license suspension for one year. You may apply for a restricted driving permit (RDP) to drive to medical appointments, school, work, and/or alcohol or drug treatment. Also, a person with an RDP can drive the elderly, children, and disabled persons. 

To get an RDP, you must prove that a hardship exists and you pose no danger to public safety. If your driver’s license is suspended or revoked and a statutory summary suspension, an ignition interlock device (IID) or breath alcohol ignition interlock device (BAIID) must be installed in your vehicle for the duration of the RDP.

Should I Get a Lawyer for My First DUI?

If there’s evidence to prove your innocence or significant penalties for being guilty, it’s in your best interest to hire a DUI criminal defense attorney.

A first-time DUI criminal charge is usually a misdemeanor offense, and most criminal courts hand down standard sentences. If you were driving while under the influence and there’s substantial evidence backing that up--elevated blood alcohol content, failed sobriety tests, witnesses stating you were driving erratically, etc.--most people choose to plead guilty. Here, a DUI criminal defense lawyer might not do much for you.

However, if there are facts about your DUI case that might increase your penalties, such as an extremely high blood alcohol concentration, or aspects that may reduce your penalties, including procedural issues during your drunk driving arrest, to hire an experienced DUI lawyer.

If you’re unsure, a DUI attorney can help you recognize these facts and help you come with a solid legal strategy, including representing you at trial.

If there’s some doubt about your DUI case, you might plea bargain. A plea bargain allows you to plead guilty in exchange for lesser drunk driving charges from the prosecutor.

Factors that can create doubt about the justification of your drunk driving arrest include:

• Questionable field sobriety test outcome
• Blood alcohol concentration below 0.08%
• Doubts about the accuracy of your blood alcohol content
• Procedural issues with your arrest, including the arresting police officer not reading you your Miranda rights. Here, a skilled DUI criminal defense attorney can get your charges dismissed or reduced.

Experienced attorneys know how prosecutors work and what arguments are likely to win a reduced plea. Sometimes prosecutors can reduce DUI charges to a wet reckless, which is a reckless driving DUI charge where alcohol played a factor. A wet reckless leads to a lesser sentence than a DUI.

You can win a plea bargain on your own if the facts are strongly in your favor. However, if your DUI case is complicated, a DUI attorney might have a better chance of success.

What Questions Should I Ask a DUI Lawyer?

Whether you've been caught driving with a high blood alcohol concentration or arrested for being too intoxicated to operate a motor vehicle safely, every court system takes DUI criminal charges seriously. DUI penalties are two-fold: both administrative and criminal--you get your driver’s license suspended in addition to fines and a possible jail time. However, you don’t have to go through the difficult legal process alone. An experienced Lombard DUI lawyer can help you understand drunk driving laws, the facts of your DUI case, and the potential defenses available to you.

If you don’t know how to hire a qualified DUI lawyer, here’s a good place to start. Here are potential questions you should ask your DUI attorney at your first meeting.

• How long have you represented DUI clients?
• How many DUI cases do you handle yearly?
• Do you know the prosecutor in my DUI case? Do you practice in my county?
• How many DUI cases have you successfully plea-bargained down to a wet reckless or had dismissed?
• Have you ever been on a DUI ride-along with law enforcement officers?
• Are you certified by any DUI organizations, including The National College for DUI Defense (NCDD) or the Illinois state bar organization?
• Besides the standard legal fees, will I pay extra fees, such as expert witness fees, and blood sample retesting fees?
• What forms of payment do you accept?
• Is a plea bargain a possibility in my DUI case? How about motions, such as pre-trial motions, to suppress evidence?
• What factors benefit me and what works against me?
• Should I go to trial?

Facing a DUI is a very devastating experience. Thus, knowing which questions to a traffic violation attorney can help you hire the best Lombard DUI criminal defense attorney in your area.

Contact Our Experienced Lombard DUI Criminal Defense Attorneys for Legal Advice!

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a serious criminal charge in Illinois. Apart from jail time and fines, drunk driving arrests can cause the loss of your driving privileges. In Illinois, a DUI stays in your driving record forever, which can have a negative effect on your life, especially during job applications. The best way to protect yourself from harsh DUI penalties is to hire experienced Lombard DUI criminal defense representation.

At Dohman Law Group, we provide skilled DUI criminal defense services. Our DuPage County DUI criminal defense attorneys understand the severity of DUI criminal charges and penalties our clients face. We’ll fiercely defend your rights and interests both in and out of court. We have helped thousands of clients get a favorable outcome in DuPage County, Kane County, Will County, Cook County, Kane County, and throughout Illinois, and we can help you too. To schedule a no-cost initial consultation with one of our experienced Lombard DUI attorney, call us today at (847) 616-9993, or chat with us online to learn how we can help.