Cook County DUI Lawyers
A DUI conviction can have a serious impact on your personal and professional life. That is why you need a legal team that truly cares and can provide the best possible result for your case.
Drunk driving charges are serious, but your Illinois DUI lawyer can help you fight them. You may also have questions about the reliability of breath, blood, and urine tests.
Experience
A DUI conviction can have life-altering consequences. It is important to hire competent Cook County DUI Lawyers as soon as possible to help you defend yourself against the charges.
A good Cook County DUI attorney will have extensive experience fighting drunk driving charges and a deep understanding of the specific legal issues involved. They will know how to handle cases involving field sobriety tests, blood alcohol content (BAC), breathalyzer testing and implied consent law.
Additionally, they will have experience addressing the resulting Statutory Summary Suspension of your driver license. This is a common issue with Illinois DUI cases. Often, it can be addressed by filing a Petition to Rescind within 90 days of your DUI arrest.
Also, a good Cook County DUI lawyer will be familiar with the judges in the court where your case will be heard. They will also be familiar with the prosecutors who will be prosecuting your case. Experience in dealing with these individuals is a huge advantage when trying to get your case dismissed or a favorable plea bargain.
Accuracy of Breath Tests
A breath test is an inaccurate measure of blood alcohol content (BAC). According to The New York Times, several factors can skew the results of a breathalyzer test. For example, mouthwash can have residual alcohol that could cause a lower reading. Moreover, it takes time for alcohol to be fully absorbed in the body.
A more accurate measure is through a chemical analysis of a blood sample, known as GC/MS testing. However, many officers do not use this method, preferring to rely on breath tests.
A DUI conviction carries serious jail time and other consequences that can radically change your life. Get in touch with a skilled Chicago DUI attorney to discuss your case. Hal Garfinkel’s record of success and his 24/7 availability by phone, fax or email are unique in the field of Illinois criminal defense. He can help you fight a DUI charge and possibly get your license back. Contact him today for your free consultation.
Implied Consent Law
Most states have a law called the “implied consent” law, which means that when you get a driver’s license, you are agreeing to give implied consent to a blood, breath or urine test for your blood alcohol content (BAC) if police officers have reasonable suspicion that you are driving under the influence. Refusing to take the test can result in a license suspension and other penalties.
During a DUI stop, police must read you an Implied Consent Advisory and inform you that you can be charged with DUI if you refuse the test. They must also inform you of the penalty for refusing the test, which typically includes a one-year license revocation.
Those who oppose these laws say that they violate the Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable searches. You may want to ask potential Chicago DUI lawyers about their views on this issue before retaining them. It is also important to find out whether they have been disciplined by the state bar association or legal ethics board.
Out-of-State Drivers
If you’re driving in Illinois from out of state — whether on vacation, visiting friends or family, or traveling for business — a DUI arrest can have devastating consequences. If you’re charged with drunk driving, you owe it to yourself to hire a skilled Cook County DUI lawyer as soon as possible.
In addition to addressing your criminal charges, a good attorney will also be well-versed in the nuances of interstate DUI law and the specific forensic procedures involved with defending clients against drunk driving cases involving drug use (i.e., marijuana and prescription drugs).
Find out how many DUI cases the attorney has handled in the past year, and be sure to ask about how long a conviction will stay on your criminal record (which is different from the license suspension that your DMV uses). You should also make a point of asking whether the attorney has ever been disciplined by a bar association.
