While a first DUI normally leads to a license suspension and maybe a few days in jail and a second DUI can be a little more serious, your first two DUIs are usually misdemeanors. If you get a third DUI in Illinois, you are now facing a felony charge. Felonies carry a year or more of time in prison and can have a much more serious impact on your life than a misdemeanor. While misdemeanor charges are often overlooked by employers and landlords, felony charges for repeat DUIs can lead to rejection after rejection. The other legal penalties for a third DUI are also much harsher than the penalties for a first or second DUI. If you are facing a felony DUI, you must be represented by an experienced Rolling Meadows, IL repeat DUI defense lawyer.
Consequences of a Third DUI in Illinois
The third DUI penalty most Illinois defendants are most concerned about is jail time. Since a third DUI is a Class 2 felony, you could face between one year and 7 years in prison. In some cases, a shorter term of imprisonment followed by probation is possible. However, your DUI attorney will need to negotiate with the state or present strong mitigating factors – circumstances that show your offense is less serious than it looks – to reduce your prison time.