BIG TROUBLE: DRIVING ON A REVOKED LICENSE IN ILLINOIS

Illinois is serious about enforcing its laws about driving on a revoked license when the underlying offense involves drugs or alcohol.

Recently, a DuPage County judge sentenced a defendant to 8 ½ years in prison for two counts of driving on a revoked license. The man’s license had been revoked after a 2001 DUI accident involving the death of a young woman. (See 8 ½ Years for Driver With Long Record)

Illinois may soon be stiffening its penalties for these offenses. Currently, the sentence for a first-time driving on a revoked is 30 days community service or 10 days imprisonment. Under the proposed law, a driver could no longer get community service and must serve jail time. Jail time would also be mandatory for driving on a statutory summary suspension (the nearly automatic suspension imposed by the secretary of state after a DUI) if any alcohol or illegal drugs are found in your system.

If you are charged with this or a similar offense, contact an experienced DUI attorney immediately. An attorney can review your case for your best possible defense. Did police have a legal reason to stop you? If not, your attorney can ask the court to have the evidence from your arrest suppressed. Even if the police acted properly, an attorney who is respected in the courthouse may be able to negotiate a more favorable plea agreement than you could on your own.

If you have questions about this or another related Illinois criminal or traffic matter, please contact Matt Keenan at 847-568-0160 or email matt@mattkeenanlaw.com.

(Besides Skokie, Matt Keenan also serves the communities of Arlington Heights, Chicago, Deerfield, Des Plaines, Evanston, Glenview, Morton Grove, Mount Prospect, Niles, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Rolling Meadows, Wilmette and Winnetka.)