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How a DUI Conviction Can Impact a Teen
Despite the best wishes of parents, the vast majority of teenagers will experiment with alcohol at some point in their high school career. All parents can really hope for, is the fact that their child will remain safe while drinking, avoid over-consumption and not get behind the wheel of a car. Unfortunately, many young people that take part in underage drinking, do ultimately make the decision to drive. Below, we will examine the many ways in which driving under the influence can impact a teenager’s future.
The Consequences of a Conviction
When a person is convicted of a DUI, their life can be altered forever. The implications of a conviction can go far beyond the initial criminal punishment. Listed below, are the most notable ways in which a DUI conviction can impact a teenager’s future.
The Legal Ramifications: Here in the state of Illinois, a first DUI offense can come with significant legal ramifications. If convicted, a person will face Class A misdemeanor charges. Outside of the implications of having a misdemeanor on your criminal record (which we will explore below), the charge can come with other punishments. Most notably, a first-time DUI offender may be sentenced to up to one year in prison, depending on the circumstances. The person is likely to also face substantial fines, as high as $2,500. Significant time spent in jail can drastically impact a young person’s mental and emotional wellbeing.
The Implications of an Aggravated DUI Conviction
When a person is charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, it is important for them to understand the potential legal ramifications. Due to the manner in which drunk driving can endanger other travelers, it is not a simple traffic violation, but a serious criminal offense. According to Illinois state law, a DUI charge constitutes a Class A misdemeanor. Yet there are a number of factors that elevate a standard DUI to an aggravated DUI. Below, we will explore the offenses that can lead to an aggravated DUI charge, as well as the ways in which a conviction can ultimately impact your life. If you have been charged with an aggravated DUI, seek out legal assistance immediately.
Common Aggravating Factors
According to Illinois state law, an aggravated DUI conviction automatically constitutes a Class 4 felony. If convicted, the offender could face more than one year in prison, fines as high as $25,000, and a serious mark on their permanent record. It should be noted, that as of January 1, 2019, driving your vehicle the wrong way down a one-way street while under the influence of alcohol constitutes an aggravated DUI. Listed below are other common aggravating factors.
How to Get Your Driver’s License Reinstated
Here in the state of Illinois, there are a number of violations that could result in a driver’s license suspension. A driver can lose their driving privileges for three or more traffic violations within a 12-month period, accumulating 10 or more parking tickets and refusing payment, or for non-payment of court-ordered child support. The most noteworthy reason for a driver’s license suspension is a DUI offense.
According to the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office, more than 27,000 Illinoisans were charged with driving under the influence, throughout 2017 alone. Fortunately, a person facing either a license suspension or revocation may be eligible for reinstatement. If you have lost your driving privileges, and are hoping to have your license reinstated, you need to hire an attorney that you can believe in.
How a Violation Could Impact Your Commercial Driver’s License
Here in the United States, commercial truckers are an integral part of our economy. Commercial trucking continues to be the No. 1 form of shipping. According to the American Trucking Association, there are an estimated 3.5 million truckers with a commercial driver’s license (CDL) nationwide. With so many truckers on the road, truck accidents are common.
Due to the severity of many commercial trucking collisions, law enforcement is always on the lookout for commercial drivers in violation of state or federal laws. If you are cited for a CDL violation, it is critical to seek experienced legal guidance right away.
Common CDL Violations
According to statistics compiled by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association (FMCSA), 4,213 commercial trucks were involved in fatal accidents in 2016. Many of these accidents occur when truck drivers are negligent or in violation of regulatory standards.
What are the Penalties for a DUI Arrest in Illinois?
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.
Consequences of a DUI Conviction
In Illinois, DUI convictions come with severe legal ramifications. Even a first-time DUI offender can be harshly punished for a conviction. A first-time DUI conviction is typically charged as a Class A misdemeanor, which carries up to one year in jail and potential fines up to $2,500.
What to Do if You are Pulled Over by Police in Illinois
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.
Multiple DUI Charges Bring Serious Potential Penalties
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.
4 Ways You Can Lose Your Driver’s License in Illinois
The United States Constitution guarantees many rights for American citizens, such as the right to free speech, to protest, and to bear arms. Though many people think driving is a right, it is not. It is a privilege. There is nothing that guarantees your right to drive a vehicle.
In Illinois, there are multiple ways you can lose your license, some that have nothing to do with moving violations. Before a driver’s license suspension, the Illinois Secretary of State will send you a written notice in the mail.
Here are a few ways you can lose your driving privileges in Illinois:
Driving While Intoxicated
The most common way Illinois residents lose their driving privileges is through a DUI arrest. As a first-time offender in Illinois, if you fail a chemical test or fail to complete a test, you will have your driving privileges suspended for six months by the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office. If you refuse to take a chemical test, your license will be suspended for 12 months. These are penalties for statutory summary suspensions, but being convicted of DUI can carry increased penalties.
Standardized Field Sobriety Tests in Illinois
Popular television shows like “Cops” have long shown amusing videos of DUI suspects attempting to recite the alphabet or walk in a straight line. While these TV shows have tried to entertain us with failed attempts to complete field sobriety tests during DUI traffic stops, neither DUIs or field sobriety tests are laughing matters. These tests are administered to DUI suspects as evidence to support an arrest and they can also be used as evidence in the court of law when a person is being tried for a DUI.
Standardized vs. Non-Standardized Tests
When it comes to field sobriety tests, there are two types: standardized and non-standardized. Most police forces use a combination of both types of tests, though standardized tests are the most widely accepted. Standardized tests are also usually the only tests that hold up as evidence against a DUI suspect in court. In the 1970s, the three standardized field sobriety tests were developed. Over the years, these tests have been studied, and it has been determined that standardized field sobriety tests can detect if a person is too impaired to drive around 90 percent of the time.
Underage DUI and Consequences in Illinois
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.
DUI Consequences in Illinois
Even though your teen is technically not an adult yet, they can be charged with an “adult” DUI if their blood-alcohol content is over .08. A first DUI conviction means license suspension for at least two years, vehicle registration suspension, and fines of up to $2,500. Your teen will not be eligible for a restricted driving permit (RDP) until the second year of the license revocation. Offenders under the age of 18 are not eligible for a monitoring device driving permit (MDDP) and may be required to attend remedial education before their driving privileges are reinstated.
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