The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority is a state agency that studies our court system closely. From time to time, I read the summaries on their site.
They have been tracking the increasing frequency of probationary sentences for driving under the influence and other vehicle code offenses. Their statistical survey proves that judges are cracking down on DUI and other traffic offenses. They say:
From 1999 through 2008, there was a 64.8 percent increase in the number of active DUI probation cases and a 58.1 percent increase in the number of active traffic probation cases, excluding parking violations.
This is why DUI is such a serious charge. If your driver’s license is in a summary suspension and you can’t afford not to drive, an arrest for driving while suspended can result in serious penalties. A conviction for DUI causes a revoked license, and a second offense of driving while license revoked can be a Class 4 felony (1-3 years prison).
Click here to download the summary.
