DuPage County Multiple DUI Defense Attorney

Jason M. Kunowski Provides Defense for Multiple DUIs

The consequences for driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs in Illinois can be severe and may have a significant impact on your finances, freedom, and reputation. The potential penalties only increase if you have additional DUI charges pending or previous DUI convictions on your record. In fact, Illinois DUI law 625 ILCS 5/11-501 specifically sets out additional penalties for 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and subsequent DUI offenses.

If you have been arrested for DUI and you either already face DUI charges from another incident or have been previously convicted of DUI, you may be facing significant fines, time in prison, and long-lasting suspension of your driver’s license. For these reasons, you should not hesitate to contact Jason M. Kunowski, who has extensive experience defending clients with multiple DUI charges and/or convictions.

Penalties for Multiple DUIs Under 625 ILCS 5/11-501

Illinois law sets out more serious charges and specific additional consequences for each subsequent DUI conviction as follows:

• Second DUI Offense: Charged as Class A Misdemeanor (same as 1st offense DUI); mandatory 5 days in jail or 240 hours of community service; possible 1 year in jail; minimum 5 year driver’s license suspension if your DUI was within 20 years of the first one. A 2nd offense may be charged as a Class 4 Felony aggravated DUI if the driver caused an accident with injury or death, did not have a valid driver’s license, had a passenger under the age of 16, or other specific circumstances.
• Third DUI Offense: Charged as a Class 2 Felony aggravated DUI; possible 3-7 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, however, probation may still be a possibility; minimum 10 year suspension.
• Fourth DUI Offense: Charged as a Class 2 Felony aggravated DUI; possible 3-7 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections (probation no longer an option); lifetime revocation of driver’s license.
• Fifth DUI Offense: Charged as a Class 1 Felony aggravated DUI; possible 4-15 years in the Illinois Department of Correction; lifetime revocation of driver’s license.
• 6th and subsequent offenses: Charged as a Class X Felony aggravated DUI (the highest class of felony); possible 6-30 years in the Illinois Department of Correction; lifetime revocation of driver’s license.

As you can see, the penalties for multiple DUI offenses increase dramatically. Furthermore, it is not possible to have DUI convictions expunged from your record. Therefore, avoiding conviction is extremely important in DUI cases.

Contact a DuPage County Multiple DUI lawyer for help

If you have been arrested or charged with DUI as a repeat offender, it is highly important that you contact an experienced DuPage County multiple DUI defense attorney as soon as possible. The sooner you call, the sooner Jason M. Kunowski can begin working on your case and building an aggressive defense.