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Illinois DUI Traffic Stop: What to Expect

Published on June 16th, 2020

The decision to drink and drive can have lifelong repercussions. Not only does it put your life at risk, but it also puts the lives of other drivers and pedestrians at risk as well. The State of Illinois has strict penalties in place for those who drink and drive, and police officers have the right to pull over drivers who they think may be intoxicated. The following is a rough outline of what to expect if you are pulled over for suspicion of drunk driving. If you find yourself in this unfortunate position, we recommend reaching out to our driver’s license reinstatement lawyers in Illinois for assistance.

Driver’s License & Proof of Insurance

The first thing the police officer will ask to see after pulling you over is your driver’s license and proof of auto insurance. The officer may also ask you if you are aware of why they pulled you over. They’ll observe you while asking you questions, looking for the following red flags that may indicate that you have been driving under the influence:

  • The smell of alcohol on your breath or coming from your vehicle.
  • Slurred speech.
  • Red, discolored eyes.
  • The inability to follow directions.
  • Open bottles of alcohol in your vehicle.

If the officer has doubts about whether or not you are sober, they have the right to perform a field sobriety test, such as having you blow into a breathalyzer, and possibly other standard field sobriety tests. You may be asked to walk in a straight line or asked simple questions to see if you are coherent. You cannot have a blood alcohol level (BAC) higher than the legal limit of .08, and the police officer will immediately get the results from the breathalyzer. If your BAC is higher than the legal limit, or if you refuse a sobriety test, you can be arrested.

Contact Our Driver’s License Reinstatement Lawyers in Illinois

The consequences of drunk driving can depend on how high your intoxication levels are and whether or not you have been previously convicted of driving under the influence. If you find yourself in a compromised position and need legal assistance with driver’s license reinstatement in Illinois, please reach out to our team at Johnson & Goldrich, P.C. We understand the complexities of the law and can provide you with invaluable assistance during this extremely difficult point in your life. We look forward to speaking with you.

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