Chicago Criminal Lawyer Blog
When a DUI Threatens More Than Your Driving Privileges
Every week in Chicago, professionals are arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence while leaving downtown restaurants, Lakeview bars, or suburban events in Naperville, Oak Park, or Schaumburg. Most never imagined a DUI would happen to them, and fewer realize that an arrest alone—not just a conviction—can trigger serious professional consequences.
Under 625 ILCS 5/11-501, Illinois defines DUI broadly. It includes driving or being in “actual physical control” of a vehicle while impaired by alcohol, drugs, or intoxicating compounds, or with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher. The law also covers prescription medication misuse or cannabis impairment, making it easy for even cautious professionals to find themselves facing criminal charges.
