Thursday, January 23, a man pleaded guilty to his fourth DUI charge and faces 150 days in jail plus two years of probation; if there is any violation of his probation terms, he could spend 7 years in prison. Included in his sentence is 200 hours of community service as well as alcohol treatment. He was also fined $2,235. He will also never regain his driver's license. But it could have been worse.
This last September, police responded to a call about a drunk driver and reportedly saw the defendant get out of his car with a strong smell of alcohol on him, red eyes, and poor balance. He is also said to have given a different name to the police. Officers also saw that two kids, one 2-year-old and one 5-year-old, were inside of the car. The defendant was facing misdemeanor charges of child endangerment and obstructing identification, all of which could have aggravated an already severe DUI sentence. As part of his plea bargain, however, these charges were dismissed.
The man's third DUI arrest was a charge of driving with a blood alcohol concentration of more than 0.16, with a
revoked license, without insurance, and with an open container in his car. Then, being charged with a fourth DUI meant being charged with an aggravated DUI, which is a class 2 felony. This charge could easily lead to three to 14 years in prison; to serve most of such a sentence under probation instead of in custody is a considerably lighter sentence. Also, if a fourth DUI charge comes while minors younger than 16 are in the vehicle, then fines could easily be as high as $25,000.
That being said, this DUI conviction would be forever branded on one's personal record, a permanent blot on one's reputation that would forever ruin job and housing applications. If someone is convicted of their fourth DUI, they will also lose their driver's license for life, and there would be no way to get it reinstated. As serious as any DUI charge is, if it comes when you have a prior conviction, then then this can only escalate the severity of the penalties you could face.
If you have been charged with a first time DUI or a felony DUI, your liberties and future prospects could all be on the line. You need to find the best Chicago criminal lawyer you can, one who can rigorously fight to uphold your rights, one who has
proven experience in defending clients even against the most complex and serious charges. Find the legal representation you deserve at the Law Offices of Michael P. Schmiege. You can
contact our firm 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call us today to learn how our experienced Chicago DUI lawyer may be able to get your charges reduced or dismissed altogether.