Chicago DUI Lawyer
By blood alcohol content (or BAC) is meant the concentration of alcohol in a person’s blood at any given time. State law has established that a blood alcohol level of .08 is considered under the influence. This is over the maximum allowable level for the operation of a motor vehicle. It does not mean, however that levels below that do not represent varying degrees of impairment. Many ad campaigns advocate designating someone else to drive if one has consumed alcohol to avoid the risk. It is important to know one’s own limits and abilities as to alcohol and getting behind the wheel. It is also extremely important to contact a Chicago criminal attorney as soon as possible if arrested for DUI due to a higher than allowable blood alcohol level or any other reason.
Arrested for an over-the-limit BAC in Chicago?
It takes only a couple of drinks in some cases to raise the BAC to within range of .08. The number of drinks consumed is not a good gauge of blood alcohol level however, as there are so many variations in gender, weight and amount of body fat amongst the driving population. There are various charts and tables available for reference that estimate the effects of alcohol by number of drinks versus body weight. One drink can be considered to be 1.5 oz. of an 80-proof alcoholic beverage, one 5-ounce glass of wine or one 12-ounce beer. Such tables are designed to provide information but as each person’s physiology is unique, the charts can prove to be less than helpful in certain cases.
When pulled over by a police officer due to suspicion of driving under the influence it is likely that the officer will administer any of a variety of field sobriety tests or a breathalyzer test of which the latter is used to discover the breath alcohol concentration or BAC. A determination will be made at that point which could result in a summary suspension of driving privileges, arrest and even jail. The consequences both immediate and long-range can be quite serious. It is crucial that legal representation is obtained as soon after arrest as possible. Make sure to select legal representation that is a proven and knowledgeable Chicago criminal lawyer from the Law Offices of Michael P. Schmiege. The firm has extensive experience in this area and can provide a tough, aggressive defense of the client’s DUI charge. Now is when you need a well -practiced and determined legal team on your side. Make the call – fast action is necessary in DUI cases.
Contact a Chicago DUI attorney from the Law Offices of Michael P. Schmiege right away if you have been arrested for DUI in any of the Chicago, Cicero, Berwyn or Evanston areas.
