Chicago DUI Lawyer

Arrested for Drunk Driving or DUI in Chicago?
Call Before Time Runs Out!

If you have been arrested for a DUI in Chicago or Cook County, call (312) 212-8186 to speak with an Experienced Chicago DUI Attorney at Suhre & Associates before it's too late. The DUI Defense Attorneys at Suhre & Associates offer affordable payment plans for DUI defense.

Illinois DUI Lawyers in Chicago

Illinois DUI lawyers handling drunk driving cases in Chicago and all of Cook County. Chicago DUI Attorneys Suhre & Associates, LLC.

Illinois DUI laws establish a 0.08% blood alcohol content as the legal threshold for intoxication for drivers over the age of 21. It should be noted that a law enforcement officer can still make an arrest for IL DUI with a BAC between 0.05-0.079%, if there is a suspicion of impairment due to alcohol or drugs. There is a zero tolerance for drinking and driving for those under the age of 21 and the legal limit for commercial drivers is 0.04%.

The penalties for driving under the influence in Illinois are some of the strictest in the nation. Being found guilty can result in jail, loss of driver's license, significant fines and even loss of job. A recent new law now requires all motorists convicted of drunk driving in Illinois to install a breath alcohol ignition interlock device in their vehicles. Even first offenders.

While drinking and driving is never condoned, an arrest for suspicion of DUI in Illinois does not mean you are guilty. Illinois law enforcement frequently conduct aggressive patrols aimed at cracking down on drunk driving that result in the arrest of many socially responsible drinkers.

You are entitled to protection of your rights and the opportunity for a legal defense. Do not risk your freedom, finances and your future; contact the Chicago Illinois DUI Lawyers with Suhre & Associates for immediate help.

Suhre & Associates has the experience, legal skills, knowledge of IL DUI law, and technical understanding of breath testing equipment and field sobriety tests to make a positive difference in the outcome of your case.

Call Now for a Free Consultation with our Chicago DUI Lawyers

The Cook County DUI Attorneys with Suhre & Associates offer a free consultation so they can learn more about your case and you can find out how they can help you. To schedule a meeting, call (312) 212-8186 or fill out the on-line consultation request form to the left. Your inquiry will receive a prompt response, day or night.

Penalties for DUI in Illinois

There are many criminal and civil penalties associated with an arrest for drunk driving in Chicago. For first offense, misdemeanor DUI, you could be imprisoned for up to one year, fined up to $2,500 and lose your driver's license for up to one year. There are multiple court-ordered assessments that you will have to pay, you could be required to complete an alcohol/drug rehab program and your auto insurance premiums could triple in cost.

Additional considerations, like having a person under the age of 16 in the vehicle, causing an accident with injury or having a very high BAC, can add to the degree of the penalties. Any prior conviction for driving under the influence on your record will add the severity of the criminal charges and the extent of the penalty. Any arrest, even a first offense, could be elevated to a felony depending on the details of the arrest. A fourth offense will result in a lifetime revocation of driving privileges, a maximum fine of $25,000 and up to three years in prison.

A conviction for DUI would also mean having a criminal arrest record. Such a mark could be found with a simple background check and lead to a damaged credit score and reduced employment opportunities. Canada is using data sharing with the United States to actively enforce its policy of denying entry to those with a criminal record.

It is important to consider the long-term impact of an arrest for DUI in Cook County. Contact the qualified Chicago DUI Lawyers with Suhre & Associates and ask them to help you keep your record clean.

About Your Illinois Driver's License

There are two key things to consider when it comes to your driver's license. First, both the courts and the Secretary of State's office have the ability to suspend a driver's license following an arrest for DUI in Chicago. Secondly, the state has an Implied Consent Law, which means that any motorist issued a driver's license in Illinois agrees to submit to a chemical test of their urine, blood or breath to check blood alcohol content.

Submitting to a test and registering a BAC at or above 0.08% could result in the suspension of your license for 180 days. Refusing to take a test could result in loss of license for one year. During the arrest process, an officer will seize your license and immediately suspend it for 180 days. You will be given a temporary permit that allows you to drive for 45 days. During that time, you have the right to petition the Secretary of State's office and apply for Restricted Driving Privileges. If you do not act, on the 46th day following your arrest, you will lose all driving privileges.

If you were charged with Illinois DUI with a BAC between 0.05-0.079%, you are not subject to a Statutory Summary Suspension of your license. The license penalties are based on the outcome of the criminal court case. The fact that the courts can also suspend your license is another reason why it helps to have qualified legal representation with a DUI.

For clarification of the penalties you are facing and help with your license, contact the Chicago DUI Attorneys with Suhre & Associates.

Driving With a Suspended License in Illinois

If you are caught driving with a suspended license in Illinois, you will be charged with, at minimum, a Class A misdemeanor. You could be fined up to $2,500 and sentenced to jail for up to 364 days. Depending on the court disposition of your initial Illinois DUI arrest, you could be charged with a felony that carries a fine of up to $25,000 and a term of up to seven years in prison.

Arrests for DUI Outside of Illinois

The State of Illinois has entered into agreements with other states to share information on drunk driving arrests and license suspensions. An Illinois resident stopped out of state with a license suspended for DUI can be charged with additional penalties and a probation violation. An arrest for impaired or drunk driving in another state will result in the suspension of your Illinois driver's license.

About Chicago DUI Lawyers Suhre & Associates

The Cook County DUI Criminal Defense Lawyers with Suhre & Associates focus on providing their clients with professional legal defense for alcohol related traffic offenses. Their services cover all facets of a complete drunk driving defense, including:

• Misdemeanor Illinois DUI
• Felony DUI
• CDL Cases
• Secretary of State license reinstatement hearings
• Motions to suspend Statutory Summary Suspension
• Petition for Restricted Driving Privileges
• Requesting Monitoring Device Driver's Permit
• Charges of driving with a revoked or suspended license

Suhre & Associates understand that an arrest for suspicion of DUI in Chicago can be challenging and stressful. They promise to help in any way they can. They welcome your call and are ready to talk with you about your case – with no pressure or obligation. Suhre & Associates will even refer you to another attorney if they feel they cannot get the very best result for your specific case.

Act Now for the Best Result on a DUI in Chicago

Time is critical for the successful defense of an arrest for driving under the influence in Chicago. The sooner you hire an attorney, the more time your legal counsel will have to challenge the state's case and try to save your driving privileges. To begin getting the help you need and deserve, contact the Chicago DUI Lawyers with Suhre & Associates by calling (312) 212-8186 or filling out the form to the left. The first meeting is free, with no further obligation, so don't delay.