On Monday, December 9, an ambulance crashed into a pickup truck after it ran through a red light, emergency lights and sirens blaring. According to Chicago law enforcement, the driver had a blood alcohol content that was three times over the legal limit. On Monday morning, officers came up to the already crashed ambulance and saw the driver at the wheel, the engine still on. Officers reported a "very strong odor of alcoholic beverage", as well observations of glazed eyes and slurred words. When officers asked the driver what was going on, he replied that he had to pick up a patient at a medical center. He had no partner in the car. Officers asked where this partner was, and the driver admitted he was alone, but then he switched his story and said he was going to pick up his partner.
By the time paramedics came to care for the driver, he had no story about where he was going and why he was driving an ambulance with no patient inside. A paramedic said that they saw the driver was also trying to cover his mouth, as if to keep out the overwhelming scent of alcohol on his breath. At a medical center, his blood alcohol content was tested. He had a BAC of .271, which is well over the legal limit of .08 for a driver.
The 31-year-old driver was charged with aggravated driving under the influence causing an accident, one that caused physical injury. He has further been cited for running a red light, for speeding, negligent driving, and for not having driver's license on him. He is being held on $300,000 bond. As serious as all this is, it can quickly become worse, not least of which because of previous records. These records include refusing a breath test when he was pulled over in Baton Rouge and suspected of drunk driving. The police officer had said he could not stand up straight, had alcohol on his breath, and could not speak straight. Because he refused the test, his driver's license was suspended for six months.
In Illinois, this driver also has records of being pulled over four different times for driving without a valid license, a history that will look very bad in court. This driver also has a trail of moving violations, and has been arrested for forgery, unlawful use of a weapon and impersonating a police officer. He ended up pleading guilty to misdemeanor theft and was given a probation sentence. He would at a later time plead guilty to impersonating a police officer, and he got 30 more months of probation. When he violated a condition of this sentence, and spent 18 months in prison. Prior felony charges can preclude the possibility of getting probation again.
As it is, standard penalties for a first-time DUI could mean up to one year in jail, $2,500 in fines, and one year of driver's license suspension. An ignition interlock device might be ordered, and community service could be part of the sentence as well. Aggravating factors such as a BAC higher than .16 could mean longer sentences and higher fines. But an aggravated DUI could mean up to 7 years in prison, and fines of up to $5,000. Driver license suspension would last at least 10 years.
You need rigorous defense whatever DUI charge you face, because while some sentences are far worse than others, all convictions could mean losing your freedom, paying heavy fines, and losing your driving privileges. Incarceration, a criminal record, and no license can easily mean job loss as well, and even prolonged unemployment. When the rest of your life could be at stake, you need to find the best DUI attorney possible. Find an experienced legal advocate on our directory today to defend your future!