Chicago Criminal Lawyer Blog
A Chicago Criminal Defense Lawyer Explains How a DUI Becomes a Felony
As a Chicago criminal defense lawyer with decades of courtroom experience, I know how quickly a simple traffic stop can escalate into a life-changing felony. Many clients come to me after being arrested for what they thought was an “ordinary DUI,” only to learn that prosecutors have charged them with Aggravated Driving Under the Influence—a felony under 625 ILCS 5/11-501(d). This offense carries far more severe penalties and can affect every aspect of a person’s life.
In Cook County, aggravated DUI cases are prosecuted aggressively. Judges in the Richard J. Daley Center and the suburban courthouses in Maywood, Bridgeview, Skokie, and Rolling Meadows treat these offenses as serious threats to public safety. What’s important to understand is that an aggravated DUI is not defined solely by your blood alcohol concentration. It’s defined by the circumstances surrounding your arrest—such as your driving record, who was in the vehicle, and whether anyone was hurt.
