Chicago Criminal Lawyer Blog
Why A Near North Side DUI Case Should Be Judged By Evidence, Not Fear
A DUI arrest in the Near North Side can leave a person feeling as if the case is already decided. The officer may have written a confident report, the driver may have received several tickets, and the paperwork may include a notice about license suspension. We have seen many people assume that a DUI charge means they have no real defense, especially if the arrest happened after leaving River North, Old Town, the Gold Coast, Streeterville, or another busy area of Chicago where police often patrol at night. That assumption can be costly. A DUI accusation is not a conviction, and the quality of the defense often depends on how carefully the evidence is tested.
Illinois DUI law is broad. Under 625 ILCS 5/11-501, a person may be charged with DUI for driving or being in actual physical control of a vehicle with an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more, while under the influence of alcohol, while under the influence of drugs or intoxicating compounds to a degree that renders the person incapable of safe driving, while under the combined influence of alcohol and drugs, or under other prohibited circumstances set out in the statute. The same statute also contains aggravated DUI provisions that can elevate certain DUI cases into felony charges.
