Avoid An Unnecessary DUI On Valentine's Day

 Posted on January 29, 2024 in DUI

A driving under the influence (DUI) charge is a serious offense. So, keeping "spending time in a jail cell" off the list when planning your Valentine's evening may be a good idea. If you choose to celebrate your love over a bottle of wine or champagne, do the responsible thing and do not get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. However, if you wind up getting pulled over and arrested for a DUI on Valentine's Day, a smart move would be to make your first call to an experienced criminal defense attorney.

How To Avoid a Valentine's Day DUI

There are many things you can do to avoid a DUI  on Valentine's Day; chief among them is not drinking. Is alcohol essential to show someone how much you care about them? When planning a night out, and drinks are involved, reserve a restaurant within walking distance so that if you and your date partake in mutual intoxication, you can forgo the ride home in favor of a romantic hand-in-hand walk home.

Another option is to have a date night at home. In this scenario, you can drink until your heart's content, so long as it does not compel you to take a late-night joy ride. Still, when planning to drink, it is always good to have a backup plan if you want to be out and about on Valentine's Day. You could choose to take a taxi, uber, or any other rideshare option available to and from the restaurant. In any case, DUI prevention is all there in the pre-planning.

Penalties For a Valentine's Day DUI

Being under the influence of alcohol or an intoxicating substance while operating a vehicle is illegal in Illinois. The blood alcohol content (BAC) limit is 0.08 percent. Even if the BAC limit is not reached, if a police officer suspects you are under the influence, they can arrest you on suspicion of DUI and transport you to a facility to administer chemical testing. An arrest can lead to a statutory summary suspension of your Illinois driver's license for a set period.

The other penalties associated with a DUI are structured around prior DUI convictions, which remain on your permanent record, and any aggravating circumstances. The following are the penalties you can expect to face when arrested and convicted of a DUI:

• A first DUI offense is a Class A misdemeanor with penalties of up to 364 days in jail, a maximum fine of $2,500, and a one-year license revocation for those over 21 (under 21 are looking at a two-year revocation).
• A second DUI offense is also a Class A misdemeanor, where your license can be revoked for five years. However, aggravating factors, such as driving with a minor child in the car, can bump it to a Class 2 felony where jail time is now between three to seven years and the fine is up to $25,000 with a minimum of $5,000.
• A third DUI offense is an automatic aggravated offense, which makes it a Class 2 felony where your driver's license is revoked for ten years.

Contact a DuPage County, IL Criminal Defense Attorney

On Valentine's Day, it is better to get drunk off of love rather than an intoxicating compound to avoid a DUI charge. However, if you face a DUI charge no matter the day of the year, an experienced Wheaton, IL DUI defense lawyer is a great thing to have in your corner. The Davi Law Group, LLC can protect your rights while defending against these charges. For a free consultation, make us your first call at 630-580-6373.