Regarding Illinois DWI, there is a movement underway from Chicago to Springfield that will one day result in Illinois leading the country in DUI and DWI convictions. Whether you’re reading this article by chance or by design, keep in mind that the landscape from Lake County to Peoria County has been changing at record speed for more than a decade. Drunk driving in IL now carries even more impact and ramification than ever before and an even greater punishment than its sister offense DUI. DWI stands for Driving While Intoxicated and is directly related to an individual’s BAC (Blood Alcohol Content). DUI is the acronym for Driving Under the Influence. This includes all narcotics and controlled substances and may also include alcohol related charges.
Legislators in the Illinois state capital are responding to constant pressure from activist groups like MADD and SADD despite opposition from civil rights groups who are gaining little or no traction in this highly controversial field. Politicians know that invoking stricter and, in some cases, onerous punishments for DWI offenders on their political campaign platforms can only increase their chances of success, be it reelection or election.
It has never been more important for a motorist to read, learn and research the complex variety of circumstances and consequences that can exist. First-time offenders are losing driving privileges for a full year in addition to exorbitant fines and $5,000 in legal fees for their attorney. Please note that these are individuals with clean records and no past alcohol related offenses.
Second and third time offenders of course face much harsher penalties. In fact, the State is working on a pilot test that has already been administered in some neck counties. If a second or third time offender is deemed to have exceeded the legal limit to operate a motor vehicle (.08), a police officer will have the power and ability to arrest them and take them to court where a rotation of judges from 24 hours. The perpetrator would then be adjudicated and the judge would order an on-site clinical phlebotomist to draw his blood for the purpose of determining his BAC. This event would occur voluntarily or involuntarily, as the latter would trigger the physical restraint while they manage the process.
If the above stops you in your tracks and gives you pause, it should. Arguments of violating the constitution and a person’s rights are falling fast as lawmakers learn where the support and dollars are coming from. Second and third time offenders always face the potential for jail time in addition to many years of revoked driving privileges.
Clearly, the smartest thing for a motorist to do is to avoid drinking and driving, or at the very least, understand and be very aware of your legal limits. Gender makes a big difference in this regard, as well as weight, among other factors. That being said, if you have passed this juncture, it is absolutely critical to your mental well-being and financial outlook to perform your due diligence and research legal firms.
In a highly saturated field, it’s easy not to see through the facade of many firms that will show a good result for you, but actually have very little experience to back up their testimonials. Is your prospective attorney a former prosecutor? How many areas of law do you handle? If you are promised a positive outcome, move on to your next potential lawyer, as there has never been a period of such uncertainty.
The financial aspect of a DWI in Illinois is already very damaging. You must be very careful to consider the additional ramifications of losing your driving privileges for a significant amount of time. There’s a lot to consider if you can’t drive to work, or worse, if your job involves driving. Never, ever settle for the best “deal” as avoiding a couple thousand dollars in fees could result in a couple of years in the “L”.