Multiple DUI Charges Bring Serious Potential Penalties

 Posted on February 08, 2019 in DUI

All DUI charges are extremely serious and carry severe consequences, but the more DUI convictions you have, the worse it will be. Escalating punishments are a way of trying to prevent people from becoming repeat DUI offenders. Eventually, charges go from misdemeanor to felony. Illinois judges do not show much leniency toward repeat DUI offenders and commonly punish to the full extent of the law. 

A Recent Multiple DUI Case

A 38-year-old Plano, Ill. woman was recently indicted on felony charges for a DUI after she crashed her vehicle last October. If convicted, this would be the woman’s fifth DUI conviction. She was arrested and charged with a DUI, along with being ticketed for driving too fast for conditions, and failure to reduce speed after she crashed her car. Police say the woman was slurring her speech, smelled of alcohol, and had unsteady balance, although she refused to submit to field sobriety testing.

Upgraded to Felony Charges

When the woman was arrested, she was initially charged with a misdemeanor DUI. According to the State’s Attorney’s office, a defendant’s criminal history is always reviewed in situations such as this. In this case, the woman’s previous DUI convictions warranted upgraded charges. This made the DUI charge increase from a misdemeanor to a felony.

Consequences for Multiple DUIs

According to Illinois law, a fifth DUI conviction is classified as a Class 1 felony. This means the woman faces a minimum of four years in prison and a maximum of 15 years. In addition to jail time, she also faces revocation of her driving privileges for life, a suspension of her vehicle’s registration, and up to $25,000 in fines.

Contact a DuPage County DUI Defense Attorney Today

All DUI charges can result in significant consequences. In the case of multiple DUI charges, they quickly become more serious, especially if there are aggravating factors present. At the Law Office of Patricia Magana, LLC, we can help you form a solid defense against any DUI charge, whether you are a first-time offender or you have a previous arrest. Our skilled Aurora DUI defense lawyers will fight to protect your rights. Contact our office today by calling 630-448-2001 to schedule a free consultation. Se habla Español.

Sources:

https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20190206/woman-charged-with-5th-dui-after-pingree-grove-crash

https://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/pdf_publications/dsd_a118.pdf