Lewis Gainor, Attorney at Law
An arrest for driving under the influence is typically a misdemeanor. However, there are some circumstances under which even a first offense can be a felony. For review, a misdemeanor is different from a felony in that the maximum sentence for a misdemeanor is less than one year in jail. A felony charge, however, has [...]
The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority is a state agency that studies our court system closely. From time to time, I read the summaries on their site. They have been tracking the increasing frequency of probationary sentences for driving under the influence and other vehicle code offenses. Their statistical survey proves that judges are cracking [...]
Illinois law on driving under the influence changed significantly in 2008. In that year, the legislature added additional penalties for the offense of DUI. For example, an arrest for DUI where the driver does not have a valid license turned into a felony offense. For years defendants who were arrested for DUI without a valid [...]
An arrest for driving under the influence in Illinois can be deceiving. Usually the driver is released from police custody on a signature bond. Few are required to post bond. Further, the charges are filed on traffic tickets. Some people develop expectations that the DUI may not be a serious matter. This mindset is sometimes [...]
- by Lewis Gainor, DUI Lawyer
