Every single year thousands of Illinoisans are arrested for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Due to the sheer number of annual drunk driving accidents as well as the recent legalization of recreational marijuana, law enforcement officials are increasingly on the lookout for signs of inebriated driving. While most people that a DUI charge will automatically result in a conviction, the truth of the matter is that a skilled defense attorney can be invaluable in helping you avoid a conviction. If you are facing DUI charges, it is time to speak with a criminal defense attorney you can believe in.

Improper Traffic Stops

In order to be pulled over for a DUI traffic stop, a law enforcement official must spot an initial traffic violation. If a police officer pulls you over while you were in full compliance with traffic ordinances, the evidence gained after the stop may be deemed inadmissible in court. A skilled attorney will investigate the traffic stop through witness testimony and surveillance footage to deem if the actions of the officer match up with the events leading up to the stop.

False Signs of Inebriation

In some instances, a police officer will misidentify signs of inebriation. For example, red or puffy eyes could be seen as a sign of intoxication, but could actually be due to a medical condition or allergic reaction. The same notion applies to slurred speech and other motor skill challenges, the defendant may be facing due to a medical condition. Recounting every step of the arrest process to your attorney is critically important in helping them build a strong defense case. If you have any medical conditions that may have represented false signs of intoxication, let your attorney know immediately.

According to the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office, Illinois police arrested 27,046 people on DUI charges throughout 2017. Law enforcement is always looking for signs of inebriated driving, from driving at erratic speeds to swerving from lane to lane. The consequences of a DUI conviction can be life-changing, with possible incarceration, substantial fines, and difficulty securing employment or housing. 

If you have been charged with DUI, it is important to speak with a knowledgeable legal team as soon as possible. 

All humans have a physiological reaction to things that frighten them. It is called the fight or flight response. When someone comes across something that scares them or stresses them out, their body prepares to either fight the threat or flee from it. When you hear police sirens and you see flashing blue and red lights behind you, fleeing is the worst possible thing you can do. Stopping for police officers is crucial, but what you do during the traffic stop is just as important. Here are a few important tips for how you should act when you are pulled over by a police officer:

Find a Safe Spot to Pull Over 

Once you see a police officer is trying to pull you over, immediately look for a safe place to pull off the roadway. You should try to pull over on the right side of the road. If there is no safe spot to pull over immediately, turn on your hazard lights so the officer knows you recognize their presence.

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.

As a parent, you have dreaded this day since the first time you handed your teenager the car keys and they took off without you. Getting a call that your teen is in trouble is always unsettling, no matter the situation. When that call is to inform you that your teen has been pulled over for drinking and driving, it can be devastating for both of you. 

Even though parents frequently stress the dangers of underage drinking and driving to their children, kids do not always listen, and parents are left to deal with the repercussions. Underage DUI can severely impact your child’s driving and criminal records. That could mean not getting into the college of their choice or other serious complications.