Chicago Criminal Lawyer Blog
Chicago drivers know the city is heavily patrolled, particularly on weekends and late at night when DUI enforcement is at its peak. Police departments across Cook County and neighboring counties like DuPage, Will, and Lake frequently conduct roadside checkpoints and traffic stops. For drivers accused of DUI, the first thought is often about jail time, fines, or losing a license. What many fail to anticipate is how devastating a conviction can be on their auto insurance coverage.
Illinois law makes it clear: driving under the influence is treated as a serious criminal offense, not a minor traffic violation. Under 625 ILCS 5/11-501, DUI can be prosecuted as either a misdemeanor or a felony. A first offense without aggravating factors is usually a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail. However, aggravating factors—such as prior DUIs, causing injury, or driving with a child passenger—elevate the charge to a felony. Felony DUI convictions in Illinois can bring years in prison and thousands of dollars in fines.
While the legal penalties are severe, the insurance consequences are often just as damaging. A single conviction can change your insurance rates for years and in some cases make you uninsurable with your current provider. For many, this becomes the most financially crippling part of the entire experience.
