If you have been arrested for a DUI in Lake County, Illinois you need a DUI attorney who knows how to fight and win. Hiring an aggressive attorney who is local to Lake County can truly make a difference in the outcome of your case. Driving under the influence of alcohol is a serious charge and Illinois has mandatory DUI penalties that attach upon a finding of guilty. Our local Lake County criminal lawyers can help you fight your criminal charges. DUI defense lawyers are not all the same! We have years of experience on our side.
Being pulled over in Lake County, Illinois by a police officer after consuming alcohol could make a routine situation into a criminal one. If you have consumed any amount of alcohol and are subsequently pulled over for any reason, you need to know your rights. During a DUI investigation, do not admit to consuming alcohol. Be very polite when declining the officers questions regarding consumption of alcohol. Advise the officer that you would rather not answer his questions without a lawyer being present. In addition, the officer cannot force you to perform field sobriety tests. Field sobriety tests are not very reliable and most people, even without consuming any alcohol, cannot adequately perform these tests. An experienced DUI Attorney will argue these facts to the judge or jury.
Should I Cooperate with the Officer?
Provide all documents that the police officer asks for. This includes license and insurance. If the officer asks you to exit your vehicle, you must comply. Remember, you should kindly tell the officer that you want your attorney present for any further questioning. Immediately call a DUI defense lawyer to advise you on how to proceed. An Attorney who practices DUI and criminal defense in Lake County could explain the best course to take. Our DUI lawyers have been fighting DUI and criminal cases in Lake County, Cook County and Dupage County for over 20 years.
The High Rate Of Drunk Driving Arrests In Illinois
Illinois has a very high rate of arrests for DUI/DWI charges. In the last available data from all police agencies in the state, there were over 15,000 arrests in one year just on the charge of driving under the influence.
Having a DUI Attorney from Lake County, Illinois will give you an advantage over other individuals that have been charged with driving under the influence. Your lawyer will be able to build a solid case on your behalf. Your attorney may be able to show that the arrest was invalid, that the level of influence may not have been as high as indicated by the police, or that you should not be charged with a criminal offense at all.
We have offices in both Lake County and Cook County. Our legal team can offer you a free consultation at any one of our locations. Our Lake County law office is located in Waukegan, across from the courthouse. Our Cook County law offices are located in Skokie and Chicago. We are aggressive lawyers with years of experience.
DUI Arrest in Lake County, Illinois
Whether you are facing DUI and criminal charges in Lake County, Cook County or any surrounding area, the penalties are severe. In Illinois, a DUI will be charged as a felony or a misdemeanor. A felony charge is more commonly called an “Aggravated DUI.” The penalty for this type of DUI is much more severe than a misdemeanor classification. There have to be “aggravating” circumstances like an accident with injury, no insurance 2 prior DUI’s in order to be charged with a felony for this.
Our law firm has attorneys available 24/7 to discuss the facts of your case. The lawyer you speak with can explain the legal process and what options you have. Our lawyers have years of criminal and DUI trial experience. It is this criminal defense experience that sets us apart from the others.
DUI Defense Attorney Attorney in Lake County, IL
One of the most important things that your attorney will explain to you during your initial consultation is that a DUI arrest is much different than a DUI conviction. An arrest simply means that you have been accused of a crime. A conviction is when you are found guilty.
Hiring a Lake County DUI defense lawyer is your best choice in building a strong case against your DUI charges. Your attorney cannot guarantee the outcome of your case, but they can guarantee that they will provide you with aggressive defense and help you secure the best possible outcome for the situation. It is very important that the lawyer you choose have experience with both DUI’s and criminal defense.
Our DUI attorneys are here to answer your questions. We can fight your case in Lake County, Cook County, DuPage and surrounding counties. Call 24/7 or stop by our office located at 31 S. County St. Waukegan, IL 60085.
Field Sobriety Tests
When you are being investigated for a DUI in Lake County or the surrounding areas, an officer will usually request that you perform roadside field sobriety tests. These tests are commonly referred to as FST’s. They consist of “balance” tests and sometimes a portable breath test (PBT). Standardized field sobriety tests remain “standard” whether you are in Lake County or anywhere else in Illinois. Call our office and speak to a DUI and criminal defense lawyer who could provide you a free consultation regarding the specific sobriety tests that you may have performed. Our defense attorneys could evaluate your “results” on these tests.
Should I refuse Field Sobriety Tests?
Most DUI attorney’s who practice law in Lake County would advise their clients to refuse field sobriety tests. These balance tests a supposed to be an indicator of a motorist’s sobriety. However, there are numerous factors that could effect the reliability of these tests. It is for that reason that most attorneys believe that field sobriety tests should not be taken, especially when your court will be held at the main courthouse located in Lake County, Illinois. Our lawyers highly recommend that your refuse all testing.
Even if you have taken the roadside sobriety tests, your DUI Attorney will carefully review all of the information that was documented and see if the conducted tests can even be considered as admissible evidence. Calling our office immediately for a free consultation could help your chances of winning tremendously.
Breathalyzer Tests
If you are arrested for DUI, the officer will most likely request that you take a breathalyzer or other chemical test. These other tests could include a urine or blood test. You cannot be forced to take a blood or urine test unless the officer obtains a search warrant from a judge first. Illinois has an implied consent statute which will suspend your driver’s license for a certain period of time.
After an arrest for DUI, if you refuse to submit to a breath or other chemical test, your driving privileges will be suspended for a minimum of one (1) year. If you fail the breath or other chemical test, your license will be suspended for a minimum of six (6) months. If you are considered a second time DUI offender, the minimum suspension periods go up: Three (3) years for a refusal and one (1) year for a failure. This suspension occurs forty-six (46) days after the arrest. An experienced DUI attorney in Lake County, Illinois can prevent this suspension happening!
It is important to hire a DUI attorney with experience to immediately so they can file the documents needed to fight your suspension. The document needed is called a “Petition to Rescind Statutory Summary Suspension.” Illinois courts require this document to be filed within ninety (90) days of your DUI arrest.
Your lawyer will also address the following areas of your case:
• Show that you have a medical condition that could lead to the tests showing similar results as intoxication. Several conditions can affect balance, and dental work or GERD have been known to make breath tests register inaccurate results.
• Your DUI attorney will also address witness credibility, including the credibility of the arresting officers. That is why having an attorney with criminal defense experience is a must when deciding on legal representation. Would you want an attorney who has more experience with family law issues or criminal defense issues?
Free Consultation
If you are facing aggravated DUI charges, it is in your best interest to hire a DUI lawyer s soon as possible after the arrest so that you can build a strong case and to protect your rights. Our Lake County Attorneys can provide legal advice that you can trust. We are experienced in DUI law and will use that to your advantage. Our office is located at 31 S. County Street, Waukegan, IL 60085.
