Some people believe that a first-time DUI conviction will not come with significant legal ramifications. This notion could not be further from the truth. While it is true that DUI charges will increase in severity for repeat offenders, a first-time DUI offender can face life-changing implications in the event of a conviction. Below we will examine some of the possible ramifications of a DUI conviction and how you need to react to a charge. If you are facing DUI charges, contact a skilled criminal defense attorney immediately.

The Consequences

The first thing you need to understand is that a first-time DUI conviction constitutes a Class A Misdemeanor in the state of Illinois. Along with potential fines, drug and alcohol classes, community service, and even potential jail time, a conviction comes with a one-year license revocation period. It should be noted that in the state of Illinois, 91% of all drivers arrested for DUI in 2017 lost their driving privileges for some period of time. Outside of the concrete legal consequences, a DUI conviction can result in serious rises in your insurance rates. It is important to understand that there are a number of circumstances that can lead to an elevation of the charge from a Class A Misdemeanor to a Class 4 Felony.

How an Attorney Can Help

Recognizing the legal consequences of even a first-time conviction, it is important to contact a trustworthy and knowledgeable attorney as soon as you are charged with a DUI. First and foremost, a skilled attorney will give you the best chance of avoiding a conviction altogether. Your attorney will work with you in examining the initial traffic stop and the arrest process. If the officer acted in an unethical or unprofessional manner, you may have the charges dropped. For instance, if you were forced to submit to chemical testing. If a conviction cannot be avoided, a quality legal professional can assist you in regaining your driving privileges. A first-time DUI offender can regain their driving privileges through the installation of a Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Device (BAIID).

Raising a child is never easy, raising a teenager can come with even more unforeseen challenges. Parents of teens constantly worry about their child drinking underage, for good reason too. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, teens aged 12 to 20 consume approximately 11% of the nation’s alcohol. While the vast majority of underage drinking concerns revolve around the health implications of alcohol consumption, the legal ramifications of an underage drinking charge can drastically change your child’s life.

Underage Drinking Charges in Illinois

In the state of Illinois, underage drinking comes with significant criminal punishments. According to state law, consumption or purchase of alcohol by a minor constitutes a Class A Misdemeanor. A Class A Misdemeanor can lead to up to one year in jail-time and fines as high as $2,500. Your child could also face a six-month license suspension, even if the minor was not operating a vehicle. Outside of the initial legal consequences, a conviction of this magnitude can impact your child’s options of advanced education opportunities.

There a number of ways in which underage drinking can come with even more severe criminal charges. If a minor attempts to purchase alcohol with a fake identification card, they may be facing felony charges. When a child is apprehended while driving under the influence of alcohol, the charges can significantly impact them for some time.

When a person earns a commercial driver’s license (CDL), they are granted the privilege to operate large commercial vehicles on a consistent basis. Commercial driver’s licenses are not handed out without a strict regulatory process, considering the increased likelihood of potential collisions. That being said, it should come as no surprise that losing a CDL can be much easier than most people would like to assume. Below we will examine some of the most common CDL violations and how you should react if you believe you may be in danger of losing your CDL.

Common CDL Violations

When a person is cited for violating the regulations of their CDL, the coming weeks can be quite frightening. For commercial truck drivers, a CDL is critical to a healthy financial future. If you have been cited for violating your CDL privileges, it is time to seek out the assistance of a skilled legal professional.

Failure to Properly Check Equipment: In a large percentage of CDL violation cases, the violation is simply caused by a driver’s inability to double-check the truck and ensure it is running properly. For instance, 24% of all annual roadside CDL violations involved issues with lights or reflective equipment. If a driver simply checks the lights of the vehicle and reports a lighting defect in the inspection report, prior to driving, they will likely avoid a violation.

Throughout the state of Illinois, upwards of 25,000 people are charged with driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, on an annual basis. Despite the large number of DUI arrests made each year, a DUI charge is not something to be taken lightly. A first-time DUI offender can face a number of serious consequences, most notably fines and possible loss of driving privileges. Once a person has been convicted of one DUI though, the stakes are raised significantly. Having multiple DUI convictions on one’s personal record, can seriously alter a person’s life, and significantly impact their livelihood. Below, we will examine the impacts of multiple DUI convictions, and how to react if you are facing inebriated driving charges.

The Consequences of Multiple Convictions

Given the inherent dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol (more than 300 people were fatally injured in crashes involving drunk drivers in Illinois, throughout 2017), it should come as no surprise that the charges rise significantly in severity if a person is convicted multiple times. According to Illinois state law, a first-time DUI offense will result in a Class A misdemeanor and a one-year license revocation period.

If a person is convicted of a DUI within a twenty-year period of their first conviction, the charges begin to be more severe. While a second DUI conviction still constitutes a Class A misdemeanor, the party charged will face a five-year license revocation period and a minimum of five days in prison or 240 hours of community service.

If you have been arrested for a serious crime, it is important to understand the way in which a conviction could ultimately impact your life. Not only do most convictions come with significant fines, potential loss of driving privileges, and even possible jail-time, but the longer-term ramifications of a conviction should not be understated. Having even a misdemeanor charge on your criminal record can drastically alter your ability to find employment, get loan approval, and secure housing opportunities. If you and your family are suffering due to the lingering ramifications of a criminal conviction, it is time to speak with a skilled attorney regarding the possibility of obtaining expungement or having your criminal records sealed.

What Is Expungement?

Due to the fact that criminal records are public knowledge, a prior arrest can hamper the well-being of yourself and your family. A college admissions board, a potential landlord, or a loan expert could all gain access to your criminal record and let your prior court proceedings impact their decision-making process. Because of this, many people seek to have charges erased from their criminal record or sealed from public view, this process is known as expungement.

It should be noted, that expungement is not always possible. In order to be eligible for expungement, one must have completed court supervision or probation period. Unfortunately, even in some cases in which issues with the initial conviction lead to an acquittal or no charges being filed there can still be a mark placed on your criminal record, fortunately, those clients are likely eligible for expungement. If you work with your attorney to challenge the initial conviction in your case and successfully appeal, you still may need to have the charges expunged from your record. It should be noted, that some crimes, including driving under the influence or committing sexual crimes towards a minor, are not eligible for expungement.