You were stopped for speeding after leaving a wedding early in the morning. You had already had a very long day, and you did have a few drinks at the wedding. Because of your red eyes and odor of alcohol, the officer arrested you for DUI.
Are you more likely to be found guilty because of bloodshot eyes?
While police officers typically take note of glassy, bloodshot eyes, the impact of such evidence is often limited. Bloodshot eyes may help persuade a judge that you had too much to drink, but they are only a small part of the picture.
There are a variety of reasons other than alcohol that could result in bloodshot eyes: Do you smoke cigarettes? Did you recently spend time with friends who did? Are you on medication? Do you habitually work around chemicals? Do your eyes tend to redness over the course of the day? Remember, in order to convict you, the state must prove all the elements of DUI beyond a reasonable doubt. If the answer to any of the above questions is yes, an experienced attorney may be able to shed doubt on the state’s case.
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.)
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Illinois Jurisprudence: Criminal Law and Procedure. Vol. 1. (LexisNexis 2014).
Illinois Jurisprudence: Criminal Law and Procedure. Vol. 1. (LexisNexis 2014).