The Purpose of the First Court Appearance During this hearing, the judge will officially inform you of the charges against you. This is your opportunity to hear the specific accusations and understand the legal grounds for your case. You will also have the chance to enter a plea: guilty, not guilty, or no contest.
Drunk driving suspects can expect to spend at least two hours answering questions, being fingerprinted and photographed, and submitting to chemical testing of the driver's blood alcohol content (BAC). A driver could spend a few hours before they are released, or it may take up to a few days.
The top 10 legal defenses to DUI charges are: The Officer Did Not Conduct a 15-Minute Observation. The Officer Did Not Comply with California's Title 17. Your BAC Was “On the Rise” You Were “Mentally Alert” Hypoglycemia, Diabetes or a High Protein Diet Inflated Your BAC. The Officer Did Not Follow Proper Procedure.
Because a first DUI offense is a Class A misdemeanor in Illinois, if you're arrested and charged with this crime you'll face a potential jail time of one year and fines of up to $2,500. Rarely are first-time DUI offenders sentenced to months or a full year in jail or prison.
Explain how your actions have affected others and that you understand why your actions were wrong. Explain Your Circumstances – You may evoke some sympathy from the judge if there were extenuating circumstances for your DUI.
First DUI OffenseTypically, under Illinois law, a DUI first offense is a Class A misdemeanor, which carries up to one-year in the county jail and a maximum fine of up to $2,500.00 plus court costs.
The best case scenario is a dismissal. There are many criminal defense attorneys out there, but only a handful who really concentrate on DUI. As a certified instructor on the standardized Field sobriety tests I can tell you that there are many issues to look at in any DUI case. Every case is defensible.
Drivers may end a case in a matter of days if they plead guilty or immediately accept a plea bargain offered by the prosecution. DUI cases that go to trial can take over a year to resolve in some cases. DUI cases are often broken up into different stages.
What Time of Day Do Most DUI Arrests and Accidents Occur? While DUI arrests and accidents can occur at any time of day, there are some hours when there is a higher risk of encountering a driver under the influence. The period of time from midnight to AM is the most dangerous time to be on the road.