Posted on September 08, 2014 in Criminal Defense

The state of Illinois considers drunk driving to be a serious crime, and with good reason. According to statistics compiled by the Illinois Secretary of State, hundreds of people every year lose their lives in accidents related to drunk driving. With that in mind, the state imposes severe penalties like jail time, fines, and license suspensions for anyone caught driving under the influence. Even people who do not test positive for alcohol and instead simply refuse to take the breathalyzer test can still face serious penalties for doing so.

Penalties for Drunk Driving

In Illinois, drunk driving penalties start to occur once a person's blood alcohol content passes 0.08 percent, provided that they are over the age of 21. Underage drinkers trigger separate zero-tolerance penalties if they blow anything above a 0.00. Assuming the driver is of age, the severity of the DUI punishments depends on how many DUIs the person has had in the past. For a first offense, the person can find themselves in jail for up to a year, along with a possible fine of up to $2,500. Additionally, first-time DUI convictions result in a license suspension for at least one year. Furthermore, if the person's BAC is more than twice the legal limit, they face a mandatory minimum fine of $500, along with 100 hours of community service.

Continue Reading ››