Multiple DUI Offenses Attorney

One DUI charge can have a significant impact on your family, career, livelihood, and finances.  It can severely restrict your freedom, opportunities, and driving privileges.  Can you imagine the impact multiple DUI’s would have on your life?

In Illinois, you can only receive court supervision one time in your life for a DUI should you plead guilty to a DUI or be found guilty of a DUI.  It does not matter whether the DUI occurred in another state or many years ago.  Illinois only gives you one “get out of jail” card through a special sentence called court supervision.

A sentence of court supervision is not a conviction.  It is a type of sentence that will require you to be good for a certain period of time (usually 1-2 years) and require that you pay fines and court costs, undergo counseling, and complete any other terms or conditions set by the Court such as community service or payment of restitution.  If you fully satisfy the terms of your sentence within the period of the court supervision (usually 1-2 years), your case will be dismissed.  No conviction will enter.  If you violate the terms of the sentence during the period of court supervision,  you run the risk of being convicted of the original offense.  For example, if you are arrested for a new offense while serving a sentence, the prosecutor can ask the Court to overturn your initial sentence of court supervision and enter a conviction.  Criminal convictions will appear on your public record.  If you have previously received court supervision for a prior DUI offense, you are no longer eligible for court supervision and are facing the following penalties:

First DUI Offense

  • Class A Misdemeanor
  • Court Supervision up to 2 years
  • BAC > .16 – Mandatory 100 hours of community service + minimum $500 fine
  • Fines up to $2,500 with court costs $1,000+

Second DUI Offense

  • Class A Misdemeanor
  • Not eligible for court supervision – Mandatory conviction
  • Indefinite revocation of your driving privileges
  • Mandatory 5 days jail or 240 hours community service
  • BAC > .16 – Mandatory additional 2 days jail
  • Fines up to $2,500, with court costs $1,000+

Third DUI Offense

  • Class 2 Felony
  • 3-7 years imprisonment or probation up to 48 months
  • Mandatory 10 days jail or 480 hours of community service
  • BAC > .16 – Mandatory 90 days jail
  • Fines up to $25,000, with court costs $1,000+

Fourth DUI Offense

  • Class 2 Felony non-probationable
  • 3-7 years imprisonment
  • BAC > .16 – Mandatory $5,000 fine

Please note that the information given above is not an exhaustive description of all the potential penalties you would face from a DUI conviction.  There are many other aggravating circumstances that can determine the length of incarceration, hours of community service, and amount of fines and court costs.  The unique set of facts of each case will determine the potential criminal consequences involved.

In addition to the non-exhaustive list of criminal penalties listed above, multiple DUI’s will also have a significant impact on your driving privileges.  If you are convicted for your first DUI, you will not be able to petition the Illinois Secretary of State for the full reinstatement of your driving privileges for one year.  If convicted of a second DUI, you have to wait at least 5 years before you can ask the Illinois Secretary of State to fully reinstate your driving privileges.  If convicted of a third DUI, your driving privileges will be revoked indefinitely for a period of at least 10 years.  Finally, a fourth DUI conviction will preclude you from ever obtaining any driving privileges in the State of Illinois.

A DUI Offense Lawyer You Can Trust

If you’re facing multiple drunk driving charges,  you need a criminal defense lawyer who has your back. Attorney Jason M. Kunowski can meet with you right away to discuss your potential case- contact us now for your free, no-obligation, confidential consultation with the contact form below, or by calling 630-256-8010 now!