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• Russo, Richard: DUI/DWI/Alcohol-Related Offenses Arrested for DUI? Talk to a Defense Lawyer Will you lose your driver's license if you were arrested on a DUI/DWI charge? What are the consequences? What are the steps you have to go through? Talk to an experienced DUI defense attorney about your DUI, DWI or other alcohol-rated offense (for example, consumption, open container).
• Miglore, Salvatori: Losing your license is one of most troublesome consequences of a conviction for a DUI/DWI or traffic violation. The inconvenience of dealing with a revoked license often far outweighs the fear of a possible jail sentence.
• Joseph Solon: In Illinois, DUI arrests trigger two separate cases: a criminal case and a civil case. The criminal case can result in jail time, fines, a suspended driver's license, a revoked driverÕs license, required alcohol education classes, and more. In addition, a drunk driving arrest also triggers a civil case which involves an automatic administrative driver's license suspension. There are two ways to fight it. You are entitled to an initial hearing that can save your license or you can seek later relief from the Illinois Secretary of State. Timing is critical in these matters. Many people donÕt realize that they must request a hearing within a certain number of days. After that, your license is automatically suspended and there is no recourse.
• Thomas Fezzy:
  What to do if you are facing a possible DUI?
  
  
  If you are stopped by a police officer for a traffic violation, keep the following in mind:
  
  
  *Field sobriety tests in Illinois are optional.  You may refuse to participate in a field sobriety test without any penalty. 
  
  
  *Portable breath tests in Illinois are optional.  The risk of an erroneous result far exceeds the benefit of taking one.
  
  
  *Chemical testing in Illinois consists of breath, blood or urine analysis.  There are penalties for refusing to submit to these tests, such as automatic suspension of your driving privileges, even if you are completely sober.  If you are certain that you are sober, there is little to lose by submitting to a chemical test.  Once you have submitted to a chemical test by the police, you have a right to obtain an independent test of your own choosing.  Blood testing is considered the most accurate and it is recommended after the police administered chemical test.
  
  
  *Do not submit to an interview by the police.  Remember, you have the right to remain silent.  Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.
  
  
  *If you are arrested, after you are released from police custody, immediately videotape your condition with audio (sound) to record your speech as well as your physical condition.
  
  
  *Videotape the route driven by the motorist.
  
  
  *Photograph the area where any field sobriety tests were administered for weather conditions, uneven areas or other conditions that may have affected the fairness of the tests.
  
  
  *Get an independent blood test as soon as possible.
• Stephen Brundage: Many people fail to appreciate the severity of a drunk driving (DUI) charge. Such charges must be taken seriously, as a conviction can lead to revoked driving privileges, significant fines, increased insurance premiums and jail time.
• Fawell & Associates: In Illinois, DUI's are divided into two phases. The first phase is the Statutory Summary Suspension of a person's license. As a result of a person's arrest for DUI, his or her license is automatically suspended 46 days after his or her arrest. The length of the suspension depends on whether the person has a prior Statutory Summary Suspension and whether the person submitted to a breath or blood test in the current case. This suspension is automatic. However, the law does provide an opportunity for the defendant to have a pre-trial hearing at which he or she can contest the suspension. This pre-trial hearing is separate and distinct from a person's guilt or innocence. The second phase of a DUI is the guilt or innocence of the person accused of the DUI. In this phase, the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt the guilt of the person accused of DUI.
• Zotti-Sandowski: If you have been cited for DUI/DWI, you should know that the law gives serious consequences upon conviction.Ê And these punishments drunk driving are even more severe for repeat offenders.Ê A DUI sentence may require you to pay a substantial fine, serve some time in jail, or both.Ê In addition to any fines or jail time, your driverÕs license may be suspended, even if it is your first offense.Ê You will have to find alternate transportation and go through considerable effort to regain your driving privileges after a drunk driving conviction.Ê To add insult to injury, many insurance companies will drop your motor vehicle coverage if you get a DUI.Ê The companies that will insure you will only do so at a greatly increased premium.Ê It is easy to see how important it is to protect your rightsÊ- and to do that, you need a lawyer who will work to stop these consequences from becoming reality.Ê
• Marquardt, Kallas & Belmonte: When your charged with a crime, you don't want to have a criminal conviction on your permanent record. You want an attorney who is experienced and is well known in the legal community.
• Gerald McNichols: Driving under the influence" (DUI) and "driving while intoxicated" (DWI) are two names for the crime of drunk driving. A conviction for drunk driving can carry serious consequences, including driver's license suspension or revocation, fines, and time in jail or prison. Accordingly, a person charged with drunk driving should seek legal counsel from an experienced DUI attorney to minimize any court penalties imposed. DUI : Driving Under the Influence of alcohol or an illicit substance - any substance, licit or illicit, if it impairs the driving function. DWI : Driving While Intoxicated.
• Vincent Cornelius: Trust someone who knows the system to provide the right representation and guidance.
• Ramsell & Armamentos If a person refuses to submit to chemical testing or submits to a test disclosing a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or more, his or her license will be suspended on the 46th day from the date of service with a notice of suspension (also known as the law enforcement sworn report).
• Carole Betz: Traffic tickets can have serious consequences. While most tickets are "violations," some traffic tickets are criminal charges. A license suspension can happen when a driver receives several minor tickets or, in some cases, one serious ticket. A conviction of a traffic offense will result in fines and possibly points against your license. In addition, your insurance company may increase your rates. You have a right to cross-examine the witness against you (usually the police officer). An experienced attorney is best equipped to handle cross-examination and increase the odds of successfully defending the charges against you. If you have no legally permissable defense to the ticket, you may be able to obtain a sentence of court supervision, with court supervision, the ticket will not be on your record as a conviction.
• Emily Kelly: DUI/DWI-Traffic violations can have serious criminal consequences, particularly when a driver is accused of driving under the influence. A conviction on DUI/DWI charges may result in fines, the revocation or suspension of your driver's license, and possible jail time. In addition, your insurance company may increase your rates to an unmanageable level. In defending against an impaired driving charge, you have many rights as a criminal defendant, including the right to cross-examine the witnesses against you, even if they are police officers. An experienced criminal defense attorney can make all the difference in such a difficult case.