A Crest Hill DUI Charge, Tier by Tier
A Crest Hill DUI starts as a Class A misdemeanor, and the statute adds required minimums for repeat offenses, high readings and a child in the car. The case is heard at the Will County Courthouse in Joliet.
Your deadlines
- Day 46. Your statutory summary suspension starts, counted from the day you got the notice.
- Day 90. The last day to file a petition to rescind that suspension.
The tiers in 625 ILCS 5/11-501(c)
| Fact | What the statute says |
|---|---|
| Any DUI conviction | Class A misdemeanor |
| Second DUI | Mandatory minimum of 5 days in jail or 240 hours of community service |
| First DUI at 0.16 or higher | Minimum 100 hours of community service and a $500 fine |
| Second DUI at 0.16 or higher | Minimum 2 days in jail and a $1,250 fine |
| Child under 16 in the vehicle | The statute says the person is subject to 6 months of imprisonment, an additional mandatory minimum fine of $1,000, and 25 days of community service benefiting children |
These are floors the court must apply when they fit, in addition to other penalties. A mandatory jail term or community service cannot be suspended or reduced by the judge (625 ILCS 5/11-501(f)).
Where your facts land
A Crest Hill stop by the Crest Hill Police Department produces a ticket and a sworn report. The reading, whether a child was in the car and your driving record all matter, because each one can move you to a different row of that table. Jeff reads the report with those three questions open before talking about any outcome.
The full chart for these rules, including felony levels, is on the DUI penalties chart. If a reading was very high, the high BAC DUI page covers the extra requirements. If you have a prior, see the second DUI page. Charges that rise to felony level are explained on the felony DUI page and the aggravated DUI page.
What follows a finding of guilt
The tiers are not the whole list. After a finding of guilt, and before final sentencing or an order for supervision, the court requires a professional evaluation to see whether an alcohol, drug or intoxicating compound problem exists, and the person pays for the evaluation (625 ILCS 5/11-501.01(a)). The court may also order attendance at a victim impact panel (11-501.01(b)). Any recommended treatment cannot be the only disposition.
Blood draws add one more item. A person who is found guilty may be liable for the expense of the blood withdrawal, up to $500, when the draw followed a refusal of the breath test or probable cause that drugs were involved (11-501.01(j)).
Arrested for DUI? Call Jeff now.
The license clock starts the day you get the notice. During office hours, Jeff answers the phone himself.Office hours: Monday to Friday 8:30 AM to 6 PM, Saturday 10 AM to noon. After hours, leave your name, number and the best time to call back.
Jeff McCarthy, Inspired Law Group, 136 E 9th St, Lockport, IL 60441
One stop, three outcomes on paper
Picture three drivers stopped on the same road on the same night. The first has a clean record and a reading of 0.09. The second has the same reading but a prior DUI. The third has a 0.17 and a seven year old in the back. All three were arrested by the same department and are heard in the same courthouse. The statute treats them very differently from the first page of the charging paper.
That is why a Crest Hill client hears Jeff ask about facts that seem unrelated to the stop itself. The age of a passenger or the date of a prior case can change the whole shape of the charge.
Questions to settle first
Was the reading from breath, blood or urine? When was it taken compared to the stop? Was anyone under 16 in the car? Are there earlier DUI entries on your abstract? Each answer decides which row applies. Jeff asks all four before talking about what might happen, because a number given too early is a number that may change.
Between Lockport and Joliet
Crest Hill sits between the Lockport office and the courthouse. That means a last read through the file at Jeff's office fits on the way to a court date. The case is filed in Will County, heard at the Will County Courthouse on W Jefferson St. More local information is at Areas We Serve: Crest Hill.
Reviewed by Jeff McCarthy, Attorney, Inspired Law Group, 136 E 9th St, Lockport, IL 60441.
Questions people ask about crest hill dui lawyer
Short answers first. Jeff McCarthy reviews every answer on this page.
Section 11-501(c) sets no mandatory minimum jail term for a plain first offense. It classifies it as a Class A misdemeanor, and lists required minimums for repeats, high readings and similar facts.
For a first violation, at least 100 hours of community service and a $500 fine, on top of any other penalty (625 ILCS 5/11-501(c)(4)).
No. The statute says required jail or community service terms cannot be suspended or reduced. That is why the facts that trigger them get so much attention.
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Every case comes down to its facts and its deadlines. Talk with Jeff McCarthy so you can:
- Get clear on your legal options.
- Avoid costly mistakes.
- Know what happens next, and when.
