The decision to hire an attorneymay be difficult, but there are many instances where not hiring an attorney can be detrimental to your case. One type of charge that should be handled by an experienced attorney is driving under the influence (DUI). A DUI conviction can haveboth costly and devastating effects on your life.

In Illinois, a DUI charge resultswhen an individual isfound driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or other impairing or intoxicating compounds. A personwho is found driving or in physical control of a vehicle whilehe or she hasa blood alcohol concentration of .08 or more will be charged with a DUI.

Consider the following reasons why you should consider hire a experienced DUI attorney to provide an aggressive defense to the court.

Illinois is not the only state that has strict laws regarding underage drinking. In Illinois, it is illegal for a person under the age of 21 to drink or possess alcohol. Even so, there are many individuals under the age of 21 that decide to drink alcoholic beverages.

Being charged with underage drinking can be detrimental to a minor’s future. Consider the following informationthat you should know about underage drinking in Illinois.

An Underage Drinking Charge is Considered a Class a Misdemeanor in Illinois

For most parents, their children’s safety is a top priority in their life. Even with the best of intentions, parents can make mistakes that put their own safety and their children’s at risk. For some Illinois parents, a child might face a greater risk of injury because of an adultdriving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. When this happens, a parent might have more to worry about than a pending driving under the influence (DUI) charge. There can be greater consequences for a DUI charge when there is a minor child present in the vehicle.

DUI Law in Illinois

In Illinois, a driver can be charged with a DUI if they are operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or more. A DUI charge brings the risk of potential jail time, fines, court costs, probation, or even court-mandated alcohol treatment. When a driver is charged with a DUI when their child is in the car, child endangerment laws also come into consideration. In Illinois, child endangerment results any time that a minor’s welfare is put in harm’s way because of the reckless behavior of a parent or guardian. In the most extreme cases involving child endangerment, a parent or guardian could even havehis or her parental rights terminated because of the endangerment.

Both a driver for the rideshare company Lyft and another motorist are facing charges for driving under the influence (DUI) after a fatal crash last month.

One man was driving and crossed over the center line, according to WGN9 Chicago. He collided with the Lyft driver head-on. The passenger in the Lyft was not injured and is in good condition. Unfortunately, the female passenger in the first driver’s vehicle was killed as a result of the crash. She was taken to the hospital where she later died from her injuries.

The motorist was charged with a felony aggravated DUI that resulted in the accident and death and is also facing a misdemeanor driving under the influence of drugs charge. The Lyft driver is facing charges of driving under the influence of drugs. Again, this is a misdemeanor charge.

Being faced with a driving under the influence (DUI) charge in Illinois can be scary. You don’t know what to expect or what is going to happen. Ultimately, the best way to prepare is by understanding more about your charges.

What is a DUI?

Pursuant to Illinois law, an individual who is operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or more can be charged with a DUI. A DUI is not limited to only driving with alcohol in one’s system. A person can be charged with a DUI ifhe or she isintoxicated by drugs, intoxicating compounds, or methamphetamine is inhis or hersystem.