DUI / DWI Lawyer in Peoria

For many people, a DUI charge is their first brush with the Illinois criminal justice system. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs can result in misdemeanor or felony charges, which can mean serious fines, loss of your driver’s license, and jail or prison time.

Dui Dwi Banner - Officer Doing a Sobriety Test

Experienced DUI / DWI Defense Attorney for Peoria

Being pulled over by the police for a run-of-the-mill traffic violation is stressful enough. However, when authorities suspect you of drunk driving or driving while intoxicated by drugs, your anxiety level can hit the roof. While being accused of a crime is never going to be a walk in the park, Rob Hanauer and his team at Hanauer Law do everything possible to make things smoother and take the edge off the fear you are probably feeling. When you talk with Rob about your case, you’ll never feel like just another client. We know that what you are going through is personal for you, and we make you our priority so you don’t have to worry as much about your case; you can live your life. When you need an experienced DUI lawyer serving Peoria to shoot down unfair DUI charges, we deliver.

Speak with a DUI-Defense Lawyer at Hanauer Law Today

Contact our firm right away to schedule an initial consultation with one of our DUI attorneys in Peoria.

You could be facing hundreds or thousands of dollars in fines in addition to jail or prison time and a suspended or revoked license—time is of the essence when it comes to getting the DUI or DWI charges against you reduced (for example, to reckless driving) or dropped successfully. We also handle juvenile criminal charges for DUI.

Blurry photo of a crime scene with police lights

Drunk Driving Offenses Vs. Typical Traffic Violations

Every day, minor traffic offenses tend to include speeding, running a red light, failure to stop at a stop sign, and the like. When a police officer pulls you over for these types of violations, it usually just means an expensive ticket. DUI is a serious traffic violation with much harsher criminal penalties. The following is the breakdown of the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limits in Illinois:

Drivers under the age of 21 – 0.00
School Bus Drivers – 0.00
Commercial driver’s license holders – 0.04
Drivers over the age of 21 – 0.08

Sequence of Actions Before a DUI Arrest

Law enforcement must follow specific procedures before arresting someone for driving under the influence. Failure to follow these procedures can mean a dismissal of charges or a more favorable outcome.

An officer must have probable cause for pulling over a driver. He or she must observe something that makes them suspect that something is wrong. Likewise, an officer observing a driver at a roadside safety check or sobriety checkpoint has to observe some behavior or other possible evidence before taking further action.
After subjective observation of alleged indications of intoxication and requesting a driver’s license and registration, the officer will ask the driver to perform a field sobriety test.
A field sobriety test is where an officer examines the driver’s coordination and ability to follow directions by performing a balance test, mental agility test, and eye test.
The officer may also ask the driver to perform a breathalyzer test. There are two such tests: the PBT and the RBT. The PBT is often performed on the roadside during the DUI stop. The RBT is performed at the police station after the driver has been arrested for DUI. The results of a PBT are not admissible as evidence in Illinois. The results of the RBT at the station house may be admissible if the machine has been properly tested.
If the officer decides that the driver failed the field sobriety tests, then the driver will likely be arrested for DUI.

When does a DUI become a felony?

DUI offenses are categorized as either misdemeanors or felonies, depending on the circumstances involved. The types of DUI / DWI charges in Illinois are as follows:

Misdemeanor DUI

First, DUI is punishable with a fine of up to $2,500 and up to one year in the county jail; subsequent misdemeanor DUI charges have increased in fines and penalties, including mandatory minimum jail time or public service hours. High BAC levels (greater than .16) also carry mandatory minimum sentences. An experienced defense attorney at Hanauer Law will work to secure a sentence of court supervision, which does not count as a conviction on your driving record.

Felony DUI

“Aggravated” first DUI (child in the car, school zone, vehicle crash resulting in injury or death, etc), third or subsequent DUI. A felony DUI conviction is very serious and can include up to $25,000 in fines, one to 30 years in jail, and license suspension or revocation.

Get Skilled DUI Defense

We know exactly how to fight DUI and DWI charges. The officer’s observations are highly subjective, and there are many reasons that a person could fail a field sobriety test that has nothing to do with impairment due to drugs or alcohol. For example, a faulty breathalyzer, contaminated samples, or mistakes at the lab could result in the charges against you being dropped. Contact Hanauer Law today to speak with a skilled DUI attorney in Peoria.