EXPERIENCED DEFENSE OF DUI AND RECKLESS HOMICIDE CASES
If you or a loved one 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 the charge while minimizing the consequences 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 practical experience and knowledge makes a big difference.
Driving Under the Influence of
Alcohol or Drugs (DUI) is a criminal charge. First offense DUI cases without aggravating circumstances are 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 and has been a speaker at seminars concerning criminal law matters many times.
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,
after which he was 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 Alcohol and Reckless Homicide prosecutions.
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 is well-versed on these statutes, the possible defenses to
these charges, and how to effectively negotiate with the State's prosecutors in the Lake County, Illinois courts.
The Illinois DUI statutes
are extremely complex and involve many mandatory minimum jail sentences. 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.
In Lake County, the State's Attorney's office prosecutes all felony DUI and
Driving While License Revoked cases, and there are dedicated felony DUI prosecutors who handle these cases. To meet the challenge
involved in these case, you must have an attorney who has both extensive DUI experience AND extensive felony court experience.
Steve McCollum's background includes both of these. His DUI and felony 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 because of a Felony
DUI, then it is imperative that you hire an attorney that can do everything possible for you. Please call our office for a
free consultation 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.