Chicago Criminal Lawyer Blog
A DUI Arrest in Chicago Sets Off Immediate Legal Consequences Most People Never See Coming
When someone is arrested for DUI in Chicago, the next several hours can shape the outcome of the entire case. As a DUI defense lawyer who has practiced in Chicago for decades, I have watched countless clients walk into those first 24 hours completely unprepared for the rapid series of legal steps that unfold. A DUI arrest in Chicago is not a slow-moving process. It begins on the street during the traffic stop and continues through the police station, the paperwork, and the administrative consequences triggered by Illinois law. Whether someone is stopped in Lincoln Park, Humboldt Park, Lakeview, the South Loop, or on the Dan Ryan during a late-night patrol, everything that happens from that moment forward becomes part of a legal process that can affect their livelihood, their driver’s license, and their record for years.
Chicago police patrol some of the busiest roadways in the state, and DUI enforcement is a major priority for both the Chicago Police Department and the Illinois State Police. Officers are trained to identify signs of impairment quickly and to document every observation in a way that strengthens the state’s case. Under 625 ILCS 5/11-501, driving under the influence is either a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on circumstances such as prior convictions, injuries, child passengers, or license violations. Most first-time DUIs are charged as Class A misdemeanors, but even those carry up to 364 days in jail, high fines, mandatory classes, and a lifelong record if supervision is not granted.
