Chicago Criminal Lawyer Blog
Chicago is a city constantly on the move, from heavy commuter traffic on the Dan Ryan Expressway to weekend crowds along Milwaukee Avenue in Wicker Park. With so much activity, law enforcement agencies across Cook County are vigilant about impaired driving. A driver pulled over for suspicion of DUI in Chicago may assume they are facing a misdemeanor charge, but Illinois law has strict rules for when DUI becomes a felony.
Under 625 ILCS 5/11-501, DUI is defined as operating a vehicle while impaired by alcohol, drugs, or intoxicating compounds. A first or second DUI without aggravating factors is usually a misdemeanor. But once aggravating factors are present, the law upgrades the offense to Aggravated DUI, which is a felony.
The difference is life-altering. A misdemeanor might mean supervision, fines, and a short-term license suspension. A felony conviction can lead to years in prison, permanent license revocation, and collateral consequences that follow someone for the rest of their life.
