DuPage County First Time DUI Attorney

DUI Lawyer in DuPage County for First-Time Offenders

An arrest for drunk driving is a serious matter in the state of Illinois. If convicted on a DUI charge, you face expensive fines, the suspension of your driver's license, and potential jail time. Additionally, you will have to install an ignition interlock device on your car if you want a DUI hardship license that will allow you to drive to and from work or school. Since insurance companies monitor police reports for DUI and other traffic offenses, you can expect your insurance premiums to increase substantially. If you are sentenced to jail, your employer may not allow you to take unpaid leave to serve your sentence. At the Law Office of Philip R. Nathe, we can often reduce the charges or sentence against first-time DUI offenders when their driving record is clean and they are not guilty of committing other crimes.

Do not lose your license or assume that pleading guilty will make a DUI charge go away – contact Naperville DUI defense attorney Philip Nathe today to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.

First-Time DUI Penalties in The State Of Illinois

While judges have discretion in regard to sentencing first-time DUI offenders, in general, the following penalties apply if you are convicted:

• License Suspension: One-year mandatory driver's license revocation. If you refused a breathalyzer test after being arrested, a 12-month mandatory license suspension will also apply.
• Fines: Fines vary, but they can be as much as $2,500.
• Jail: A judge can decide not to sentence you to jail, or he or she can impose a sentence of up to one year in jail.
• Community Service: If your BAC was .16 percent or higher, you may be sentenced to a minimum of 100 hours of community dervice.
• DUI Hardship License: You will usually be eligible for a Monitoring Device Driving Permit (MDDP) during the statutory summary suspension of your driver's license. In order to receive this type of permit, you must participate in either a breath alcohol ignition interlock (BAIID) program or a Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitor (SCRAM) program.

What Is a BAIID or SCRAM Device?

A condition for driving on a MDDP is monitoring by the state. The ignition interlock device functions like a breathalyzer and attaches to your car. In order to start your car, you must blow into the BAIID. If it registers a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .025% or less, your car will start; if your BAC is higher, the device will log a "FAILED" and your car will not start. In cases where you pass, you will be required to periodically blow into the BAIID as your are driving. You must pay for the installation of the BAIID and pay a monthly maintenance fee. The cost is roughly $85 for its installation and $80 a month for maintenance, plus monitoring fees of $30 per month.

While a Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitor device will usually be appropriate for people with multiple DUI convictions, it may be ordered in some first-time DUI cases involving high BAC levels or other factors. A SCRAM device operates like an electronic bracelet but must stay in continuous contact with your skin in order to measure your BAC based on your perspiration. You must have a wireless Internet connection so the SCRAM can transmit readings electronically to a remote monitoring location. The cost of the SCRAM device is about $27 a day. If you violate the terms of an MDDP or another type of occupational license, your license suspension will be longer, and you forfeit eligibility for a hardship license altogether.

Consult With an Experienced Naperville First-Time DUI Attorney

A DUI is a serious charge. However, there are a number of factors that must be considered that can result in the reduction of the charges or sentence against you. To schedule a free, confidential consultation to discuss your case, contact Naperville, Illinois, DUI defense lawyer Philip Nathe today at 630-416-7600 or toll free at 888-583-6197.