If you are arrested in Rolling Meadows for driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, it is important to find an experienced Rolling Meadows DUI attorney. Choosing a lawyer who has a successful track record with law enforcement and the area court system can have a huge impact on the outcome of your case. That’s where Goldman & Associates comes in. We’ll work with you throughout the entire process. From explaining the steps that occur in the judicial process to assisting with preparation of your defense to helping you understand your rights and responsibilities, a seasoned Rolling Meadows DUI attorney from our firm is ready to be your advocate.
Getting Pulled Over for DUI in Rolling Meadows, IL
You may get pulled over to be checked for drinking and driving if you pass a checkpoint or if a law enforcement officer feels that you exhibit signs of intoxication. You may be required to perform a field sobriety test. A breathalyzer test may also be used to determine the concentration of alcohol in your blood stream.
It is important to note that you do not have to submit to testing. While you may be arrested on the spot if you do not submit to the field sobriety or breathalyzer tests, completing one or both of these tasks can provide the law enforcement officer with evidence to use against you in court. Likewise, you do have the right to remain silent because anything you say will be used as evidence against you. At this point, it could be in your best interests to make your phone call count and dial up a Rolling Meadows DUI attorney to be there at your side right from the very beginning to ensure that you are aware of each of your rights. This can also help you to avoid a potentially costly legal mistake that can be used against you later.
Getting Arrested for DUI in Rolling Meadows, Illinois
In the state of Illinois, you can be arrested and charged with drinking and driving if you have a blood alcohol concentration, or BAC, of 0.08% or more. However, you can still be charged with this offense even if your BAC is under that amount. A BAC of 0.05% is enough for a law enforcement officer to give you a citation that could land you in court or with a conviction if you choose to plead guilty of this offense. If you are under the legal drinking age of 21, you cannot be found to have any trace of alcohol in your system or you can face charges for DUI. Once convicted, this information goes on your permanent record and can have a negative impact on many aspects of your life for many years to come.
Law enforcement personnel in Rolling Meadows take the safety of their citizens very seriously with a tough stance on crime. If an officer of the law has any suspicion that you may be driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you could be pulled over and tested. Rolling Meadows is considered to be one of the top regions in the state of Illinois in regards to DUI enforcement. This is not to say that there are more drunk individuals driving around through Rolling Meadows, it just goes to show that the law enforcement agencies in this area are more prone to detect potential drivers who are impaired. With a greater chance of being charged with DUI in Rolling Meadows, it is vital that you choose a skilled attorney who knows the area and the workings of the court to make sure that you get a fair hearing.
Penalties You Face for DUI in Illinois
You might think that because a first DUI offense is considered as a misdemeanor that the potential consequences would be minimal, so you would not necessarily require the assistance of a knowledgeable lawyer to provide you with a DUI defense. This kind of thinking can be detrimental to your case and any possible defense that you might be planning. While it is true that your first DUI conviction is a misdemeanor offense, there are very serious penalties that you can face if you are found guilty in the Third Municipal Court District, which is located in Rolling Meadows. Unlike many other traffic offenses where you might simply expect to just pay a fine and perhaps have points added to your driving record, charges involving drinking and driving are much more serious with potentially staggering consequences. Your reputation, your finances, your job, your family, and even your freedom may all be affected if you are found guilty of a DUI charge.
You may have to pay extensive fines and court fees if you are convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. You may even have to spend some time in jail, even just for a first offense of this nature. You could lose your driving privileges for a set amount of time, and you may be required to obtain an ignition interlock device at your expense in order to drive again. You can also lose the registration to your motor vehicle. Additionally, you may have to be evaluated for drug or alcohol counseling, and you may be given many hours of community service by the judge. An experienced DUI defense attorney in Rolling Meadows may be able to reduce the serious impact that these consequences can have on your future.
Additional Impacts for DUI You May Not Know
Most people understand the severity of a DUI charge and the possible legal consequences that drinking and driving can have. There are, however, some other negative ramifications that you might not consider at first. It can take thousands to tens of thousands of dollars to deal with a first DUI conviction from start to finish, even without the cost of a Rolling Meadows DUI lawyer taken into account. Your insurance rates can go way up for many years to come. This financial burden may impact your family and your personal life, leading to an increase in tension or arguments within the family or social settings.
Loss of your driving privileges can impact your employment situation. If you cannot make it to work on time every day, you may not have a job to go to. This could further exacerbate any financial issues you may face due to a DUI conviction. In addition, having a DUI on your permanent record may impact future employment opportunities, your credit rating, and even your chance of renting a place to live.
Financial strain, court dates, drug or alcohol treatment, suspension of your driver’s license, and other penalties can seriously affect your quality of life. There are time limits as to when you must submit the appropriate paperwork to save your driver’s license and to obtain appropriate legal counsel for your DUI case in Rolling Meadows, IL.
There Are Ways to Defend Against a DUI Conviction in Rolling Meadows
Each case is different, so it is extremely important to speak with a lawyer who has extensive experience in providing legal counsel for those charged with driving under the influence in Rolling Meadows, IL. A skilled attorney will take a look at the details of the case, the information provided by the arresting officer, and statements provided by the defendant.
There can be issues with the arresting officer’s observations, such as there was not enough evidence for law enforcement to pull you over under suspicion of DUI in Rolling Meadows the first place, or there could be other reasons besides alcohol consumption that could affect your ability to drive.
The officer may not have followed proper procedures for the field sobriety test or the use and reading of the breathalyzer. There could also be problems with the breathalyzer itself. If you had a blood or urine test at the police station, proper procedures must be used to mix chemicals and to avoid contamination of the specimen.
Hiring the right Rolling Meadows DUI attorney can make a huge difference in the potential outcome of your legal case. The charges might be able to be dropped, dismissed, or lowered to a lesser offense. If you are convicted, you might be able to receive lesser penalties than if you tried to handle the case on your own. Because your legal counsel will be doing the work, you will be able to focus more on other areas of your life that may have been affected by a DUI charge.
Discuss Your Case with an Experienced DUI Defense Attorney
We understand that being charged with a DUI in Rolling Meadows can be unnerving, so we are here as an advocate to make sure your rights are protected under Illinois law. If you are facing DUI charges, call Goldman & Associates at (773)484-3131 or (847)215-2600. We are here to take your call any time, day or night.
