Chicago Criminal Lawyer Blog
Police officers across Chicago and the suburbs conduct thousands of DUI arrests every year. Patrol divisions, the Illinois State Police, and Cook County sheriff’s deputies are under constant pressure to make arrests during traffic enforcement campaigns. Yet many of these cases fall apart once they reach court because the evidence does not hold up under scrutiny.
A DUI in Illinois is charged under 625 ILCS 5/11-501, which makes it illegal to drive or be in actual physical control of a vehicle while impaired by alcohol, drugs, or any intoxicating substance. A driver with a BAC of 0.08 percent or morefaces a per se violation, even without visible signs of impairment.
For a first offense, a DUI is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to 364 days in jail, fines of $2,500, and a license suspension. Repeat or aggravated cases—such as those involving injury, a minor passenger, or a suspended license—can rise to felony levels under Illinois law.
