DUI totals in the Illinois Valley have gone down in 11 of the past 13 years. Overall, the number of DUIs has dropped by roughly 50% over the past 15 years. In Bureau County, the number of people taken into custody for drunk or impaired driving dropped by one-third in 2019. This could be attributed to many factors such as an inability to afford the cost of a DUI in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. For some, it may be tough to justify the cost of drinking alcohol at a bar.
Therefore, residents of the area are more likely to have a meal and then head home if they do go out. Another reason why alcohol use may be down is because younger people are shying away from it. An attorney in La Salle said that social media is resulting in kids going to fewer parties where teenagers traditionally drink beer or other adult beverages. Furthermore, their focus has shifted to smoking marijuana or trying other controlled substances.
Marijuana will be legalized in the state starting Jan. 1, which could make it even more popular. Of course, it is possible to be taken into custody for driving under the influence of drugs instead of beer. Therefore, there is a chance that DUI totals will begin to increase after the new law goes into effect.
If a person is charged with drunk or impaired driving, it may result in negative legal, financial and professional consequences. A DUI defense attorney may help an individual obtain a plea deal or get a case dropped without the need to go to trial. This may be done by casting doubt on a breath test or the reason given for a traffic stop that resulted in a driver being charged.