Find a DWI DUI Drunk Driving Lawyer in your state.

Search for Illinois DUI Attorneys by County.

Palantine, Park Ridge, Peoria DUI Lawyers

  • Palantine/Zion
    • Michael Meschino: DUI-DWI Offenses - A cultural stigma has become associated with drunk driving that was not present in our society even a decade ago. Public perception categorizes people charged with drunk driving as criminals, even before they have been convicted of any crime. Being arrested for drunk driving, driving under the influence (DUI), or driving while intoxicated (DWI) can be an unsettling proposition, to say the least. A DUI - DWI conviction in Illinois carries with it heavy penalties, including:

      • A permanent criminal record
      • Suspension or loss of license
      • Increased insurance rates
      • Community service
      • Possible jail or prison time
      • Alcohol assessment and treatment
      • Probation
      • Vehicle immobilization or forfeiture
      • Serious fines
      • Possible job loss

      If you have been arrested or accused of drunk driving, DUI, DWI, vehicular homicide, or any other alcohol-related criminal offense, you are probably frightened, confused, and concerned about your future and that of your family. The selection of an experienced attorney is the first step towards regaining control of your life.

    • Gary Payton: The police have the power and resources of the state on their side, you need someone on your side who is knowledgeable and willing to represent your interests.
  • Palos Heights
    • John Eannace: During the past few decades, a crusade throughout Illinois and the nation has developed to enact laws to deal with the problem of drunk driving. ... A person charged with DUI is well-advised to retain the services of an attorney to represent him during the hearing process and possible requests for a judicial driving permit. The consequences of a DUI conviction are harsh. An Illinois DUI charge, at its least severe, is a class A misdemeanor punishable by up to $2500 in fines, and up to 364 days in jail. In some cases, felony criminal charges may apply! Additionally, a conviction for DUI will result in the revocation of driving privileges. Automobile companies have access, under law, to the driving records of Illinois motorists, and when they learn of DUI convictions or license suspensions, insurance cancellation is possible, with new coverage available only at a sharply increased price. Before automatically pleading guilty or entering into a rushed plea agreement because the breath test machine recorded a score above the legal limit, you should seek legal assistance. Often, these cases can be successfully defended before a jury.
  • Park Ridge
    • Nicholas Giordano: Once I am told my rights, can I be questioned? You can be questioned, without a lawyer present, only if you voluntarily give up your rights and if you understand what you are giving up. If you agree to the questioning, then change your mind, questioning must stop as soon as you say that you want a lawyer. If the questioning continues after you request a lawyer and you continue to talk, your answers can be used against you if you testify to something different. You may be required to give certain physical evidence. For example, if you are suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol, you may be requested to take a test to measure the amount of alcohol in your system. If you refuse to take a test, your driver's license may be suspended and the refusal will be used against you in court. Once you are booked, meaning your arrest is written into official police records and you are fingerprinted and photographed, you have the right to make and complete telephone calls that are free within the local dialing area.
    • Charles Harth: Were you stopped for a DUI?  Learn where you stand and what your options are.  We can explain the ramifications of law related to your case.  Remember each case is different, so a through review of your records is extremely important.  Did you receive a notice for Statutory Summary Suspension?  Statutory Summary Suspension is the temporary suspension of your drivers license.  You may be eligible for a hard ship license. 
    • Steven Kozicki: The crime of drunk driving is generally defined in two ways: (1) having a blood alcohol content above the limit set by law, or (2) driving under the influence of alcohol. To find a person guilty under the first definition, a jury (or judge) must be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that the person's blood alcohol content (BAC) exceeded a certain amount. In most states the legal limit is .08 percent. Therefore, if it is proved that the person's BAC at the time of the incident was .08 percent or greater, he or she can be convicted of drunk driving, regardless of how much alcohol was actually consumed. As a practical matter, one drink would almost certainly not lead to a BAC of .08 percent or greater; generally, a person needs to have five drinks in an hour to develop a BAC of .08 percent. However, if there was something unique about the person or the drink, or other circumstance, one drink could raise the BAC above the legal limit. In contrast, the second definition does not refer to any particular BAC. It focuses on the driving behavior of the person; if it is impaired by the person's consumption of alcohol, he or she can be found guilty of drunk driving. Instead of presenting evidence of the BAC to a jury, the prosecution seeking a conviction under this definition generally presents testimony about the person's driving and consumption of alcohol. A police officer will often describe the impaired driving that lead him to pull the person over and the person's ability (or lack thereof) to perform field sobriety tests, such as walking a straight line. Evidence is also usually presented concerning the person's consumption of alcohol and if the jury then concludes that the prosecution has met its burden of proof, it will convict the person of drunk driving. A susceptible person may exhibit impaired driving after one drink and therefore be convicted of drunk driving.
  • Peoria
    • Dura Law Office: You should consult an attorney for individual advice regarding your own situation.
    • Ghantos Law Offices: Traffic violations can have serious criminal consequences, particularly when a driver is accused of driving under the influence. A conviction on DUI or DWI charges may result in fines, the revocation or suspension of your driver's license, and possible jail time. In addition, your insurance company may increase your rates to an unmanageable level. In defending against an impaired driving charge, you have many rights as a criminal defendant, including the right to cross-examine the witnesses against you, even if they are police officers. An experienced criminal defense attorney can make all the difference in such a difficult case.
    • Joe Gibson: Traffic violations can have serious criminal consequences, particularly if you are accused of driving under the influence or driving while intoxicated (DUI/DWI). If you are convicted of DUI/DWI, the potential consequences include fines, driver's license suspension or revocation, and jail time. In addition, your insurance company will likely raise your rates to a point where they are not affordable. In defending against DUI/DWI, you have many rights as a criminal defendant, including the right to cross-examine the witnesses against you. An experienced attorney representing you can make all the difference.
    • John Lonergan: The largest concern in any DUI case is the preservation of your driving privileges. Certainly the possibility of 364 days in jail is foreboding. But, if you are convicted of a DUI your license will be REVOKED and that carries with it an entirely different loss of freedom. Revocation is different from a suspension in that when the period of suspension is over you simply pay a reinstatement fee and you are back on the road. If revoked the reinstatement process is long, difficult and carries no guarantees.
    Return to Illinois DUI Lawyers