Naperville Multiple DUI Lawyer

Navigate Your DUI Charges with a Trusted DuPage County Attorney

A single DUI can disrupt your life. You might have to attend substance abuse treatment, and you will likely have your driver's license suspended. You may face collateral consequences at work or school. You could even go to jail for up to a year, although very brief sentences or probation are generally more likely. A first DUI is to be taken seriously in Illinois. A second, third, or subsequent DUI is even more problematic. Repeat offenses open you up to increased jail sentences. A third DUI is automatically prosecuted as a felony. Felonies carry more than a year of time in prison. Judges tend to look down on defendants who repeat their mistakes. The worst outcomes of drunk driving are familiar to judges. Even if you did not injure anyone or cause an accident, the court will show concern for what could have happened. Your license could be revoked for years. Incarceration becomes more likely and more lengthy with each subsequent DUI conviction.

Appelman Law LLC can help you fight back. Our team is highly experienced in DUI defense. Over the years, we have developed a number of powerful and highly successful DUI defenses. We will begin by meticulously reviewing all the relevant facts and evidence in your case in order to design the best possible defense. The police may have convinced you that the evidence against you is overwhelming and you are certain to be convicted. However, there are many legal defenses you could have available to you. An attorney must review your case in order to determine how best to defend you.

Second, Third, and Further DUIs

Second DUIs are typically still misdemeanors, unless there were aggravating factors. This means that they carry up to a year in jail. There is a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 days in jail or 240 hours of community service that may apply.

A third DUI is far more serious. It is a felony. So is any subsequent DUI. People who are convicted of a third or subsequent DUI are very likely to be incarcerated. The court is likely to believe that the defendant is a danger to the public and incarceration is necessary.

Defending Against DUI Charges

Few DUI cases are as solid as they initially appear. The prosecution may have the results of a field sobriety test and a breathalyzer test, but either of these can be inaccurate for a number of reasons. Defense strategies we use include:

• Question the chemical tests - If an officer uses a breathalyzer that is not properly calibrated, or improperly handles a test tube for a blood test, the results might be wrong.
• Explain the field sobriety test - Intoxication is not the only thing that can cause a person to "fail" a field sobriety test. High winds can cause a sober person to sway. A medical condition could affect a person's balance. An uneven surface can make the tests much more challenging than they are intended to be.
• Challenge the stop - Police officers must have probable cause to suspect that someone is committing an offense in order to pull over a vehicle. If there is no probable cause, the stop may have been unconstitutional and your case could be dismissed.
• Involuntary intoxication - If you did not become intoxicated voluntarily - for example, if someone spiked your drink with alcohol or another substance without your knowledge - you may have been deprived of the ability to conform your conduct to the law and are not guilty of a crime.

We will carefully review all the facts of your case in order to develop the best possible defense for you.

Contact a Naperville Lawyer for Multiple DUIs

Appelman Law LLC is committed to providing each client with aggressive advocacy and achieving the best results possible. We will do all we can to protect your rights and freedom. Contact us at 630-717-7801 to receive a complimentary consultation.