Hamilton & Antonsen

Will County DUI Attorney

What to do if you have been arrested for a felony or misdemeanor DUI in Illinois

Being arrested for driving under the influence in Illinois can permanently alter your personal and professional life. Will County takes accusations of DUI very seriously and prosecutes charges to the fullest extent of the law. If you or a loved one has been arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs in Will County, it is critical that you immediately call the Joliet lawyers at Hamilton & Antonsen or contact us to speak with an experienced DUI defense attorney about your case.

DUI Charges in Illinois

Illinois has some of the strictest DUI laws in the country and some of the harshest penalties for conviction. A person is considered driving under the influence if they have a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08% or higher, or 0.04% if it is a driver of a large commercial truck. The state has a zero tolerance policy for minors, who are not allowed to have any level of BAC while behind the wheel. In addition, with the passage of recreational marijuana in Illinois, the laws were amended for DUI to also include a THC level of five nanograms or more to constitute driving under the influence.

Penalties for Driving Under the Influence in Illinois

The penalties for a DUI conviction are serious. For a first conviction, the punishments can include a driver’s license suspension for one year, up to one year in jail, and fines up to $2,500. The first conviction is a Class A misdemeanor offense but it can be elevated to a felony if bodily harm was caused.

A second conviction for DUI in Illinois comes with a driver’s license suspension up to five years along with up to one year in jail and $2,500 in fines. This is also a Class A misdemeanor offense that can be elevated to a felony if bodily harm was caused. There is no look back period in Illinois, which means that all DUI convictions are counted no matter how long ago they took place.

Third and subsequent convictions for DUI in Illinois are extremely serious. They are considered Class Two Felony offenses and come with a jail term between three and seven years in addition to fines up to $25,000. The driver’s license is automatically suspended for 10 years, and the person is labeled as a convicted felon with a permanent record that cannot be expunged for this offense.

In addition to the administrative and criminal penalties, conviction for driving under the influence also comes with personal and professional reputation ruin, restrictions on certain jobs, and serious effects on background checks for a job, school, and housing. There are many options for defending against charges of driving under the influence. The experienced Will County lawyers at Hamilton & Antonsen, Ltd. Can help.

Criminal Law Topics of Interest

For more information regarding some specific aspects of DUI & criminal law in Joliet and the greater Will County area, please see the topics below

Speak with an experienced DUI Attorney

To learn more about your legal options following an arrest for DUI in Will County, call Hamilton & Antonsen in Joliet at 815.729.9220 or contact us to schedule a free case evaluation today.