Sami Azhari, Attorney at Law
Attention: This article was originally published February 25, 2013. The information has since been reviewed for accuracy and is up-to-date as of December 2019. All DUIs are charged under the same statute, 625 ILCS 5/11-501. Regardless of whether it is a misdemeanor or felony, a person’s guilt or innocence is determined by the same sections […]
Most people with multiple drunk driving offenses do not assume they will be (legally) behind the wheel for quite a while following their arrest. Illinois has strict mandatory driver’s license suspension laws that make it difficult for even first time offenders to start driving again. For those with more than two or three convictions, they […]
For years, DUI offenders have had to worry about their driver’s licenses and the possibility of incarceration. But recently, prosecutors have given defendants another cause for concern. The government can seize a DUI offender’s vehicle, and after a process called civil forfeiture, sell the vehicle at auction and keep the proceeds. The process takes place […]
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 […]
Illinois law on driving under the influence changed significantly in 2008. In that year, the legislature added additional penalties for the offense of DUI. For example, an arrest for DUI where the driver does not have a valid license turned into a felony offense. For years defendants who were arrested for DUI without a valid […]
An arrest for driving under the influence in Illinois can be deceiving. Usually the driver is released from police custody on a signature bond. Few are required to post bond. Further, the charges are filed on traffic tickets. Some people develop expectations that the DUI may not be a serious matter. This mindset is sometimes […]
- by Sami Azhari, DUI Lawyer
