What is an aggravated DUI in Illinois?

Drinking alcohol can be a fun way to unwind after a long day, socialize with friends, or watch sports. However, if people consume too much alcohol it can lead to problems and consequences that they don’t want. That could be that they say something they regret, embarrass themselves, hurt themselves, or wind up in legal hot water. In some instances these individuals are arrested for DUI.

The consequences an individual may face if they are convicted of a DUI depends on a number of factors. However, in general the more DUIs a person has the more significant the consequences become. Also, other factors can lead to an aggravated DUI, which will result in more serious consequences.

An individual can be charged with aggravated DUIs if one of the following factors are present: it is the person’s third DUI; the person was driving a bus with children on it; there was an accident resulting in serious bodily harm or death; the person received another DUI while their driver’s license was still suspended for a previous DUI; the person did not have a license at the time of the DUI; it was the person’s second DUI and they had a person under the age of 16 in the vehicle with them; or the person was driving a taxi cab, Uber or other vehicle for hire and had passengers in the vehicle at the time of the offense and other situations as well.

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a dangerous activity, which is why the law imposes serious consequences on people who do it. This is especially true for people who are charged with aggravated DUIs. People only realize these consequences, though, if they are in fact convicted of the offense. There are often defenses available for accused individuals depending on the circumstances. It is important to know these potential defenses and how to utilize them to one’s advantage, which is why consulting with an experienced attorney could be beneficial.