On April 13, Illinois police took a 55-year-old man into custody on his 10th drunk driving charge. Authorities say that he was driving a Hyundai southbound on Interstate 55 near milepost 261 when they conducted a traffic stop. While the complaint against him says that his blood alcohol content was above .08 percent, the exact amount was not disclosed.
There were also no details given as to why police believed that the man was impaired when they made contact with him. Authorities charged the man with two counts of aggravated driving under the influence, and each count is considered to be a felony. He was initially taken to jail, where his bail was set at $1 million. Although the amount is considered high for a drunk driving charge, the court noted his history of drunk driving when setting it.
Someone who is arrested for drunk driving may face a variety of penalties if they are convicted of the charge. For instance, they may spend time in jail or be faced with the prospect of losing their licenses. This could be in addition to legal fees, court costs and any bail paid on a defendant’s behalf. There are many steps a DUI defense attorney could take to help a person obtain a favorable outcome in a case.
First, it might be possible to argue that the defendant was not intoxicated at the time of a traffic stop. For instance, a mechanical issue with the vehicle may have made it hard to keep it in one lane. An attorney could also work to have evidence suppressed or cast doubt on police testimony. Legal counsel may challenge any tests used to charge an individual.