Chicago Criminal Lawyer Blog
Chicago DUI Arrests Often Begin With Subjective Field Sobriety Tests
Across Chicago and throughout Cook County, DUI arrests frequently begin with field sobriety testing conducted on the side of the road. These tests are commonly presented by law enforcement as reliable indicators of impairment. However, field sobriety tests are not scientific measurements. They are observational tools that rely heavily on an officer’s interpretation. Because of this, these tests are often disputed in Illinois DUI defense cases.
Illinois DUI law is governed primarily by 625 ILCS 5/11-501. This statute prohibits operating or being in actual physical control of a vehicle while impaired by alcohol, drugs, or intoxicating compounds. A first offense is generally charged as a Class A misdemeanor, while aggravated DUI charges may result in felony prosecution. Factors that elevate DUI charges include prior DUI convictions, accidents involving injury, driving with a revoked license, or transporting minors.
