DOES SPEEDING PROVE I WAS DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE?

The answer is not necessarily.

If you were pulled over for DUI based on speeding, then the police likely have the probable cause they need to stop you, and you would not be able to fight the stop itself.  But the good news is that speeding doesn’t necessarily equal impaired driving.

To convict you of DUI, the state must prove that 1) you drove and 2) your driving was impaired by drugs or alcohol.   If you otherwise drove safely, performed well on field sobriety tests and spoke clearly and intelligently to police, you may be able to win a not guilty verdict on your DUI.

If you have been charged with DUI or a similar offense, contact an experienced attorney immediately.   The attorney can request copies of the state’s evidence including any body cam or squad car videos of your stop and testing.  An attorney can review the state’s evidence to see if you have a chance of winning at trial.  If the evidence is clear that you’ve had a few too many, an attorney who is respected in the courthouse may still 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.)