Naperville DUI Attorney

Naperville takes a serious approach to driving with any amount of alcohol on your breath or the sweet aroma of cannabis in your car. Traffic safety is their goal, and Naperville police can be aggressive when enforcing it. If you have been pulled over for driving under the influence, your next phone call should be to a skilled Naperville DUI lawyer.

Naperville has long been known for strict enforcement of DUI (driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs) laws, ranking in the top five for the past 17 years among police agencies that responded to the Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists’ annual survey. This ranking dropped in 2017 to the ninth highest number in the state, but Naperville police still made 271 arrests for DUI. Police in Naperville mean business. Law enforcement takes these offenses seriously because driving under the influence kills and maims.

We know that everybody makes mistakes, and sometimes a person needs a second chance. If you’ve been arrested for DUI, contact a Naperville DUI lawyer at Wolfe & Stec today at 630-305-0222 to find out what legal steps to take next. We offer a free consultation. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.

A Naperville DUI Lawyer Can Help You Face This Nightmare

If you have been accused of a DUI in Naperville or anywhere else in Illinois, you face serious consequences. First-time offenders face license suspension, fines or even jail, and subsequent offenders may be charged with felony DUI. There are other costs as well — your insurance premiums will rise, your family will face embarrassment, and it may affect your job and educational opportunities and career.

The seasoned and experienced Naperville DUI attorneys at Wolfe & Stec, Ltd. are aggressive litigators and thoroughly understand the courts and the law. We offer a free consultation to examine the facts of your individual situation, so call our offices or contact us online today.

Naperville DUI Attorney Says Stay Silent After Your Arrest

The things you do in the first minutes, hours and days after your arrest can have a huge impact on whether you are found innocent or guilty. These can also affect the severity of a possible sentence. Exercise your right to remain silent. What you say will be used against you in a court of law. Be polite but say nothing. Otherwise, you could end up being the prosecution’s star witness in your own case.

We realize that you may be tempted to defend yourself by explaining your situation to police. Don’t do it. Your best bet is to say nothing.

How Can a DUI Lawyer in Naperville Help Me Through the Legal Process?

One of the first things we can do is educate you about the legal system. There are a lot of twists and turns in the legal process, and our Naperville DUI attorney will be with you every step of the way. We will gather evidence and craft the strongest defense possible. We will also stay in close communication with you and keep you updated on the progress of your case.

Illinois defines “Driving Under the Influence” as operating a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol, other drugs including cannabis (marijuana) prescribed for medical purposes, or intoxicating compounds and methamphetamine.

You are considered to be under the influence if you have a blood-alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or more or if you have used any illegal substance or are impaired by medication. You may also be convicted with a BAC between .05 and .08 if additional evidence shows you were impaired.

For drivers under 21, any amount of alcohol in the blood can lead to a DUI. For drivers of commercial vehicles, the limit is 0.04 percent.

Tests Used to Determine Intoxication

Law enforcement has a few tests they can use to determine whether a person is legally intoxicated. Some of these include:

Breathalyzer – blowing into a device to calculate BAC.

Field Sobriety Test – conducting physical tasks (walking in a straight line, touching your nose, etc.) to determine level of impairment.

Blood or Urine Tests – samples of blood or urine are tested at a laboratory to determine BAC.

Possible Penalties

Even if you feel wrongly accused or if you feel remorseful for a single poor choice you made, you will likely want to know the possible penalties for a DUI arrest. These can vary widely depending on several elements, including whether injuries or fatalities occurred, the level of alcohol or drugs in your system, whether it is a first or a repeat offense, and other factors. A skilled Naperville DUI lawyer can answer your questions and explain these matters in greater detail.

In Illinois, a DUI is a class A misdemeanor, and conviction penalties include the possibility of court supervision, a suspended license, fines of up to $2,500, and up to one year in jail. First-time offenders face a mandatory suspension of their driver’s license and having a Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Device (BAIID) with a camera unit installed on their vehicles.

Repeat offenders may almost certainly face jail time and fines and have driving privileges limited or revoked as follows:

• For those with past convictions or without a valid driver’s license — a DUI may become a felony punishable by more than a year in jail.
• A Class 4 felony conviction may bring imprisonment of 1-3 years and fines of up to $25,000.
• If there are injuries or deaths, if becomes a class X felony, with imprisonment of 6-30 years and fines of up to $25,000. (see the ISP’s site for additional penalties.)
• According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 2014 Illinois DUI Facts, 281 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes, and there were 32,822 DUI arrests recorded by the Secretary of State’s office.

Hire a DUI Attorney in Naperville Today

Once a DUI conviction is on your record, it is almost impossible to get it removed. If you are facing DUI charges in Naperville, you need the help of an experienced DUI attorney in Naperville to help you avoid conviction.

A DUI defense attorney can make a major difference, especially if there are “aggravating circumstances,” such as repeat offenses, property damages, injuries, or endangerment of a child. An attorney can help get you off if you weren’t drinking but somehow failed the field sobriety test or the breath test.

The seasoned Naperville DUI attorneys at Wolfe & Stec, Ltd. know the courts and the system and understand that there are aspects of DUI charges that may lead to a dismissal or result in a lesser offense or penalty. We are aggressive litigators and will work with you to investigate and fully understand the facts of your case and be your strong advocate in the courtroom. We will make sure you complete requirements and forms and are properly prepared to go to court.

Delaying can only make your situation worse, so call or contact us online today for your free initial consultation. Reach us today at 630-305-0222.