Drunk driving charges are serious, especially when someone is arrested for a second, third or even fourth offense. Defendants often lose their driving privileges, and a conviction on some DUI charges can even send them to prison. Indeed, an Illinois woman who is currently facing her fourth DUI faces the possibility of spending time in prison.
The 55-year-old woman was arrested following an accident that occurred on Feb. 27, 2020. It was apparently a single-vehicle accident in which there were no injuries. The responding officer initially arrived to complete a property damage report but noticed that the driver appeared to be under the influence of alcohol.
The officer’s report specified that the driver’s eyes were bloodshot and that she smelled like alcohol. She allegedly also admitted that she had drunk two or so glasses of wine some time before getting behind the wheel. The report also noted that she refused to participate in any field sobriety testing. A chemical test later determined that her blood-alcohol concentration — BAC — was .218. The legal limit in Illinois is .08.
The woman is currently charged with a fourth offense DUI, which is a felony and could lead to a seven-year prison sentence. Additional allegations include charges for driving without a license, driving too fast for conditions and two other felony counts for aggravated DUI. The potential legal consequences of these and other criminal charges are serious and potentially life altering, so it is usually a good idea for defendants to begin working on their criminal defense plans as quickly as possible.