DUI Lawyer in Chicago

2^nd DUI Offense

When a driver has a prior DUI conviction on his or her record, a second DUI will have more of an impact. The penalties for a second DUI conviction are enhanced, including a longer period of license suspension, heavier fines and a longer term of imprisonment. Because so much is at stake in these matters, it is of the utmost importance that you act quickly and involve a Chicago DUI defense attorney who can get to work protecting your driving privileges and legal rights.

There are two key consequences of a drunk driving arrest: statutory summary suspension and criminal charges. Statutory summary suspension allows for the automatic suspension of one's driving privileges for a failure or refusal to submit to breath or blood testing. A second time offender will face 1-year license suspension for failing a chemical test within 5 years of a previous failure, without the possibility of applying for a Monitoring Device Driving Permit (MDDP), which would allow him or her to drive for limited purposes with an ignition interlock device installed in his or her primary vehicle. A second refusal of a breath test will result in 3-year suspension. If convicted on criminal charges for a second DUI offense, a driver may face the following penalties:

• Up to 1 year in jail
• Fines of up to $2,500
• Mandatory minimum imprisonment for 5 days or 240 hours of community service
• Revocation of driving privileges for 5 years (if the conviction was within 5 years of the previous conviction)

Additional penalties may apply if the driver is accused of having a blood alcohol concentration of .16% or greater, causing a car accident or having a child in the vehicle at the time of the offense.

Arrested for a second DUI in Chicago? Call an attorney today!

If you would like to avoid the many serious consequences of a second DUI conviction, make sure you have a lawyer who has the experience, training and resources to help. By contacting Fagan, Fagan & Davis to talk to a Chicago DUI attorney about your case, you can get a head start in avoiding a conviction and maximum penalties for a second DUI. There are a number of ways to build a successful defense strategy, even in the face of a second or subsequent driving under the influence offense. With our experience and knowledge in this field, we can determine exactly how we can help you.

Contact a Chicago DUI lawyer at our firm today to find out how we can help you.