Michelle Edens, Attorney at Law

Addison DUI Attorney

Perhaps police arrested you for Addison DUI at a checkpoint. Or maybe you slammed into a tree and later blew a 0.12% BAC on your breath test. In any case, you want to understand your possible penalties and ensure that you get a fair defense.

Chicago area DUI law is fairly straightforward. For your first Addison DUI conviction, you face the loss of your driver’s license for a full year, a maximum fine of $3,000 and a full year behind bars. For a second DUI conviction (within 20 years), you may lose your driver’s license for 5 full years and face a mandatory jail sentence of 5 days behind bars or 240 hours of community service. You will also face a maximum fine of $2,500 as well as a full year of jail time.

Both first and second DUIs are considered misdemeanors, in ordinary circumstances. But a third DUI (within 20 years) is charged as a Class 2 Felony. Not only will you will lose your license for 10 years, but you will also face periodic imprisonment of 18 months to 30 months as well as a maximum fine of $25,000. Plus, you could go to jail for up to 7 years.

These DUI punishments may sound harsh but you should know that they only apply to non-injury DUI events. If you caused great bodily harm or permanent disfigurement to someone, you could face a Class 4 Felony charge. If convicted, you will lose driving privileges for a full year, serve 10 days behind bars (or 480 hours of community service), pay a fine of up to $25,000 and face up to 12 years of prison time.

The penalties can be even more severe in the following situations:

• You drove on a suspended license;
• You participated in gang activity or other criminal behavior when you were stopped for DUI (or were in a DUI crash);
• You engaged in other illegal activities, such as leaving the scene of the accident, resisting arrest, or threatening an officer;
• You were charged with DUI after accumulating a lengthy criminal history.

How to Build Your Addison DUI Defense

The nature of your punishments will depend, in large part, on the defense you structure. The team of attorneys at the Law Office of Michelle Edens can help you understand the dynamics of your case and build a sound defense.

Experienced Addison DUI lawyer, Michelle Edens, can be reached online or by phone at 630-665-8978. Call her or connect online now to schedule a confidential consultation about your DUI. We represent clients in Naperville, Aurora, Lisle, Downers Grove, Itasca, Woodridge, Glen Ellyn, Willowbrook, Oak Brook, Wood Dale and DuPage County.