Illinois' Repeat Drunk Driver Problem

 Posted on January 28, 2015 in Personal Injury

One in three drunk driving convictions are attributed to repeat offenders. In 2011 alone, over 1.2 million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence. This means well over 400,000 drivers are repeat offenders. In 2012, 35 percent of alcohol-related crashes in Illinois resulted in fatalities. Driving Under the Influence In Illinois, if your blood-alcohol concentration is .08 percent or higher, you are considered too drunk to drive. If your blood alcohol is .08 or above when you are pulled over, your license is immediately suspended. If your blood alcohol concentration is between .05 and .08 percent you may not be summarily suspended, but you may still be cited. You will be charged with driving under the influence. Not only is your license suspended for six months if you fail a sobriety test, the state will impose severe fines, mandatory community service hours, and driving penalties. In addition, court-ordered substance assessment, remedial education, treatment programs, and increased insurance premiums are part of the overall costs one faces for a drunk driving conviction. The consequences are more severe when you are considered a repeat offender. Drivers who are convicted of more than one offense face gradually increasing penalties and possible jail time. A second conviction can also result in a $5,000 fine, 240 hours of community service, and revocation of driving privileges for at least 5 years. Those who are facing a third conviction risk losing their license for 10 years, suspension of vehicle registration, jail time, and up to $25,000 in fines. Individuals who are convicted of three DUIs may spend up to seven years in prison and have their driver's license suspended for a minimum of 10 years. The punishment escalates with each passing DUI conviction. This does not even begin to take into account those drivers who face criminal charges for harming property or people during their drunk driving escapades. Drivers convicted of driving under the influence may also have a Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Device installed on their wheel. This device will not start the vehicle so long as there is alcohol on one's breath. It also requires the driver to blow into the device over the duration of the trip, to ensure sobriety is maintained. Driving under the influence one time is dangerous let alone multiple times. Repeat offenders put not only themselves but also every other driver on the road with their choice to get behind the wheel after they drink. Contact Our Experienced Accident Attorneys If you or a loved one was seriously injured or killed by a drunk driver, please contact an experienced DuPage County car accident attorney who can help. We can gather evidence about your case and help ensure that you recover compensation. Reach out to us today at Mevorah & Giglio Law Offices for an initial consultation and to see how we can be of assistance.