Chicago Criminal Lawyer Blog
Chicago Streets and the Reality of DUI Enforcement
From Michigan Avenue’s nightlife to the rush-hour lanes of the Eisenhower Expressway, Chicago police patrol aggressively for signs of impaired driving. Many people assume that if a crash occurs but no one is hurt, the legal trouble will be minor. Under Illinois law, that assumption is dangerously wrong.
Even a fender-bender in a River North parking lot can result in arrest under 625 ILCS 5/11-501, Illinois’ DUI statute. Prosecutors in Cook County can pursue a criminal conviction even when the only damage was to a vehicle or public property. The fact that a crash occurred serves as circumstantial evidence that the driver was impaired, giving the state leverage.
