Prosecutors in Kane County will be stepping up their DUI patrols during the weekend just before St. Patrick’s Day. While this is the 25th year in a row that Kane County has conducted these patrols known as “No Refusal” patrols, there is an important change this year.

When a driver is pulled over for a suspected DUI and refuses to submit to a chemical test, such as the breathalyzer, they will automatically lose their driver’s license for one year. Law enforcement will then contact an on-call judge that can issue an immediate warrant for the test. If the suspected driver still refuses, the test can be taken forcefully, and the driver can even face charges of obstruction of justice. The news of the patrols, and the change, has many drivers asking when they can refuse a test, and what type of test they can refuse if pulled over for a DUI.

Refusing Chemical Tests

Being pulled over is a scary thing, even when a person has not been drinking. When an officer approaches the window and suspects you are intoxicated, it becomes even more frightening. Even though you are nervous, it is important to remember that you have rights and that you know what to do, and what not to do. Below are the five biggest mistakes many drivers make when they are pulled over for a suspected DUI, and how doing them can negatively affect your case.

Admit You Have Been Drinking

If you have only had one or two drinks, you may feel confident in telling the police officer that when they ask. However, this is a big mistake, and you should never admit that you have been drinking. The officer and prosecution will hold this against you later in your case. It is equally important that you do not lie to the officer. Ask if you are being charged with anything and if they ask again if you have been drinking, tell them you would rather not say.

The new year saw many changes to Illinois law, and the one garnering the most attention is the fact that both medicinal and recreational marijuana are now legal in the state. Although Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Gibbons says that he is in support of the new law, as it may eliminate the black market, he also has a warning for drivers. That is the fact that law enforcement across the state has been training on how to spot drivers under the influence of marijuana. He wants to remind drivers that while marijuana is now legal, it is still against the law to drive under the influence of the drug.

What is Drugged Driving?

The Illinois statute for driving under the influence includes both alcohol and drugs that can impair a driver’s ability to drive safely. Even prescription drugs can mean a driver will face charges if it is found that those drugs impair the motorist. This includes prescriptions for medical marijuana.

When most people think about DUI charges, they typically think of a person driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) greater than the legal limit. In Illinois, as in most states, this limit is 0.08 percent. However, this is just one type of DUI charge in the state. In Illinois, there are six types of DUIs a person may face, and many of them do not even involve having a BAC higher than the legal limit.

DUI with BAC of 0.08 or Higher

This is the most common type of DUI in Illinois. To secure a conviction, the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a person was in physical control of a vehicle and that they had a BAC of 0.08 percent or higher.

The holidays are approaching and that means in Illinois, you will likely come across more DUI checkpoints as you are traveling between shopping malls, restaurants, and the homes of loved ones. During the landmark case, Michigan Department of State Police v. Sitz, the United States Supreme Court ruled that these checkpoints do not violate a person’s rights. However, the federal government leaves it up to the individual states to determine if these stops go against the state’s constitution, and how to operate them if they determine they are legal.

Unlike some states, such as neighboring Wisconsin, in Illinois, DUI checkpoints are considered legal. That doesn’t mean though, that you do not have any rights when approaching one.

How DUI Checkpoints Work