If you have been charged with Reckless Homicide or Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs (commonly referred to as DUI or DWI), you will need to find an attorney with the background that will enable you to successfully defend against this criminal charge while minimizing the consequences that the charge will have upon your life and ability to drive. There are many defense lawyers who will offer you discount prices for little or no real service. This is an area of law where extensive experience makes a difference.
Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs (DUI) is a criminal charge. First offense DUI cases are generally classified as Class A Misdemeanors for which the possible punishment includes up to one year in jail, a fine of $2,500.00, or both. In addition, the Illinois Secretary of State must revoke the driver's license of any person convicted of DUI. Unlike a suspension of a driver's license, a revocation means that your license does not get reinstated after a period of time.
In many first offense Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol cases, the person charged may be eligible for a sentence of court supervision. This is a sentence that defers and avoids a conviction if the person successfully completes all conditions of the sentence as directed by the judge.
In most cases where a police officer charges you with Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, he or she will also issue a Notice of Statutory Suspension. This notice is then sent to the Illinois Secretary of State and results in the suspension of your driver's license for anywhere from 6 months to 3 years, depending on several statutory factors. A competent defense lawyer will do everything necessary to litigate this summary suspension and prevent the suspension from going into effect. To do so, he must be completely familiar with the ever-changing DUI and Statutory Summary Suspension laws. Steve McCollum regularly reviews decisions by the Illinois Supreme Court and the Appellate Courts interpreting Illinois DUI and Summary Suspension statutes.
Steve McCollum has successfully defended hundreds of DUI and Reckless Homicide cases since he entered private practice after 16 years as an Assistant State's Attorney. In the State's Attorney's Office he was the Chief of the Misdemeanor and Traffic Division as well as the Chief Deputy State's Attorney in charge of all criminal prosecutions. As Chief of the Traffic Division he was responsible for all of the State's Attorney's Driving Under the Influence of Alchol cases and Reckless Homicide cases. He personally prosecuted many of those Reckless Homicide cases through the trial process. That experience allowed Steve to become completely knowledgable concerning the testing procedures and devices used by police, as well as the use of accident reconstruction experts.
When deciding on who is best to defend you on your Driving Under the Influence charge, you should also know your prospective lawyer's philosophy concerning the practice of law and defending clients. Steve McCollum currently practices in the DUI courtrooms on a daily basis in the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan, Illinois. This background has helped make him the most thorough DUI defense attorney possible. This leads to a philosophy where all avenues of defense are explored and all necessary actions are taken on your behalf to successfully defend you. Steve McCollum's experience has repeatedly resulted in DUI charges being dismissed, evidence being suppressed, cases won, and driving privileges maintained for his clients.
As previously stated in most first and second offense DUI cases there will also be a Stautory Summary Suspension which must be fought. This suspension can only be prevented by the filing of a Petition to Rescind the Statutory Summary Suspension. Attorneys who offer piecemeal services don't routinely file these Petitions unless their clients ask for it and pay additional fees. Unlike those lawyers, upon being retained for your case Steve McCollum will file a Petition to Rescind the Statutory Summary Suspension without charging any additional fees whenever it is warranted. He will immediately request the documents, breathalizer logbooks, and videotapes which can lead to winning the hearing on that petition and the underlying DUI charge.
If you are charged with Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs and are seeking an attorney with the competence, trial experience, and thoroughness necessary to help you through the tough process that the DUI criminal courts have become, please call our office for an appointment. We will do everything we can to help you.
FELONY DUI and DRIVING WHILE LICENSE REVOKED CHARGES
Illinois has greatly expanded the number and types of cases that can result in a charge of Felony Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol (DUI) or Felony Driving While License Revoked (DWLR). Steve McCollum handles Felony DUI and DWLR cases in the Lake County, Illinois courts. The Illinois DUI statutes are extremely complex and involve many mandatory minimum jail sentences -- see DUI Law Unlike misdemeanor DUI cases, Felony DUI cases carry the possibility of a State prison sentence. These charges also result in the revocation of your driver's license if you are convicted.
Therefore, it is extremely important in a Felony DUI case to hire an attorney that has extensive experience in both DUI law and the defense of Felony cases in general. Steve McCollum has that experience. His felony experience is extensive, including as an Assistant State's Attorney and as a defense attorney. This means that you will have an attorney with more experience than the prosecutor who will be prosecuting your case. His DUI experience means that the many pitfalls that could cause a less experienced attorney to lose your case will be avoided.
If you stand to lose your liberty due to a Felony DUI, then it is imperative that you hire an attorney that can do everything possible for you. Please call our office for an appointment at (847) 662-2474.
Illinois has greatly expanded the number and types of cases that can result in a charge of Felony Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol (DUI) or Felony Driving While License Revoked (DWLR). Steve McCollum handles Felony DUI and DWLR cases in the Lake County, Illinois courts. The Illinois DUI statutes are extremely complex and involve many mandatory minimum jail sentences -- see
DUI Law Unlike misdemeanor DUI cases, Felony DUI cases carry the possibility of a State prison sentence. These charges also result in the revocation of your driver's license if you are convicted.
Therefore, it is extremely important in a Felony DUI case to hire an attorney that has extensive experience in both DUI law and the defense of Felony cases in general. Steve McCollum has that experience. His felony experience is extensive, including as an Assistant State's Attorney and as a defense attorney. This means that you will have an attorney with more experience than the prosecutor who will be prosecuting your case. His DUI experience means that the many pitfalls that could cause a less experienced attorney to lose your case will be avoided.
If you stand to lose your liberty due to a Felony DUI, then it is imperative that you hire an attorney that can do everything possible for you. Please call our office for an appointment at (847) 662-2474.
Steven P. McCollum
Law Offices of Steven P. McCollum, P.C.
415 Washington Street, Suite 103
Waukegan, Illinois 60085
Steve McCollum is a well respected Lake County, Illinois criminal defense and juvenile defense lawyer, with over 25 years of experience as a prosecutor and defense attorney representing both adult and juvenile clients concerning cases throughout Northeastern Illinois, including the cities of Antioch, Barrington, Buffalo Grove, Deerfield, Fox Lake, Grayslake, Gurnee, Highwood, Highland Park, Lake Villa, Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, Lake Zurich, Libertyville, Lincolnshire, Lindenhurst, Long Grove, Mundelein, Round Lake Area, Spring Grove, Vernon Hills, Wauconda, Waukegan, Zion, and all other areas of Lake County, Illinois in the areas of felony and misdemeanor criminal defense, DUI defense, and Juvenile Law.