When someone is accused of driving under the influence of alcohol, there is often a great deal of uncertainty. What are the penalties? Do I have to give up my driver’s license? A multitude of consequences are conceivable. These are based on the severity of the violation, i.e., the respective blood alcohol content (BAC) that is determined during the check.
The consequences are far-reaching. Some violations are only classified as administrative offences. In serious cases, the violation is even classified as a criminal offence. Under certain circumstances, a longer driver’s license suspension or a so-called medical-psychological examination can also threaten.
Getting the right lawyer is essential if you want to receive a lighter penalty for your drunk driving case. Goldman & Associates has the best attorneys if you are charged with Driving drunk in Lake County, Illinois.
Have you been caught by the police while driving under the influence and don’t know what’s in store for you now?
There is often ambiguity when it comes to the question of which blood alcohol levels apply, from when one has to expect consequences, and, above all, which consequences.
First, the issue of a fine is conceivable, in which a fine is set, the violation is punished with corresponding points in the driving aptitude register, and a driving ban is imposed. However, depending on the blood alcohol level determined, there may also be a criminal offense punishable by a fine or, in the worst case, imprisonment. In Chicago, you will be charged if your BAC is .16 or higher. If convicted, you can face up to a year in prison or pay up to $2500 in fines.
Should I Hire a Lawyer?
Does hiring an attorney help if you’re charged with driving under the influence (DUI)? Or will hiring an attorney be another long line of expenses if you’re charged with a DUI? The answer depends on whether you can afford it and are innocent.
If this is your first drunk driving offense or, for whatever reason, your first exposure to the law, expect to face an expensive legal process.
Do you need a lawyer?
DUI is a serious criminal offense that could affect your future and employment. Most attorneys will tell you that you “must” hire an attorney who focuses on defending drunk drivers. Lawyers are promising they “may” be able to salvage your driver’s license or reduce or fire your drunk driving charge. The key is the word “can”.
A lawyer may be able to reduce fees or get your driver’s license, but this is not guaranteed.
There was a time when hiring a drunk driving attorney could mean you could plead a lesser charge like reckless driving, pay a fine, and be done with it. But that was before all 50 states passed so-called drunk driving per se and other laws that made it mandatory for drunk drivers to be judged on the DUI charge.
How to deal with drunk driving allegations
You shouldn’t tell the police at the traffic stop if you’re accused of drunk driving. You should only provide information about yourself and show your vehicle documents.
Even if you receive mail afterwards, you should not comment on the incident in writing. Instead, it makes sense to contact a specialist traffic lawyer who will take care of the matter for you. With his expertise, he can at best ensure that the sentence is reduced or even that an acquittal can be obtained.
Conclusion
As you can see, to a certain extent, there are no serious consequences if you drive under the influence of alcohol. If this limit is exceeded, however, very drastic consequences can quickly threaten, up to and including a criminal conviction.
Of course, keeping your hands off the wheel is always better when you’ve been drinking. However, if you have misjudged the situation, there is still the possibility of influencing this result through a qualified defense in the context of penal or criminal proceedings.
In the context of fine proceedings, it is always worth first checking whether action against a fine notice makes sense. This is often the case. But even in criminal proceedings, there are many ways to keep an impending sentence as low as possible. It is always worth contacting a lawyer if you find yourself in such a situation.
