Ramifications of a Drunk Driving Conviction

 Posted on April 13, 2020 in DUI

Here in the state of Illinois, law enforcement officials are constantly on the lookout for impaired drivers. Recognizing the fact that drunk drivers cause approximately 30% of all nationwide traffic fatalities, and over 10,000 each year, it should come as no surprise that police officers do everything in their power to prevent inebriated driving. According to the Secretary of State’s office, more than 29,000 people were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, throughout 2018 alone. While the sheer number of DUI arrests could indicate that a DUI conviction comes with limited legal ramifications, this could not be further from the truth. If you have been charged with driving under the influence, it is time to speak with a lawyer.

The Legal Consequences of a DUI

The first thing to understand about the consequences of a DUI conviction is that the charge will go on your permanent record and cannot be expunged. In other words, the conviction will impact your ability to secure employment, loan opportunities, and housing for the rest of your life. A first-time DUI offender will be charged with a Class A misdemeanor if convicted. Along with having a misdemeanor charge on their permanent record, the offender can also face up to one year in prison, and fines as high as $2,500.

It is important to understand that this is the minimum penalty a person will face for a first-time DUI. In the state of Illinois, there are a number of aggravating factors, such as driving without a valid driver’s license or causing serious bodily harm to another party, which can result in your DUI charge being classified as an aggravated DUI. An aggravated classification will result in the charges being elevated from a misdemeanor to a felony and lead to harsher criminal punishments.

Regardless of how your DUI is classified, there is an incredibly high likelihood that you will lose your driving privileges. According to the Secretary of State’s office, 90% of eligible drivers that were arrested for driving under the influence, throughout 2018, lost their driving privileges. A first DUI conviction will result in a minimum license revocation period of one year. A driver can choose to obtain a Monitoring Device Driving Permit (MDDP) but will have to pay for the installation and monitoring of a Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Device (BAIID). If a driver is apprehended while driving another vehicle that is not equipped with a BAIID, they will face serious legal consequences.

Contact a Naperville DUI Attorney

The true cost of a DUI conviction cannot be understated. Recognizing this, Attorney Patricia Magaña will do everything in her power to ensure that you avoid a conviction. Through a thorough analysis of the arrest process, Attorney Magaña will craft a comprehensive defensive strategy to avoid a conviction. To schedule a complimentary consultation with a knowledgeable DuPage County DUI defense attorney, call us today at 630-448-2001.

Sources:

https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving

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