According to the Illinois State Police Department, an Aggravated DUI is a Class 4 felony in the state of Illinois and is defined by any crash that results in great bodily harm or permanent disfigurement. When an Aggravated DUI is committed, a hefty fine or sentencing may result and an offender may be convicted with a Felony (Aggravated) DUI if any of the following offenses are committed:

• DUI without a permit or valid driver’s license;

• DUI without vehicle liability insurance;

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Just days ago the South Elgin Police Department announced that they will be increasing the number of officers on the streets patrolling for drunk drivers around the Labor Day holiday. Officer Dan Eichholz told the Chicago Tribune that the department received a special grant to deploy these officers, who have been “tasked with the specific function or detecting and arresting impaired motorists.”

The Illinois Department of Transportation (DOT) awarded the grant as part of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) funds allocated to help keep the roads safer. The increased enforcement effort is part of the Illinois DOT “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” and “Click It or Ticket” campaigns.

The National Safety Council keeps statistics on Labor Day crash fatalities, and holidays like Labor Day usually see increased numbers of drunk drivers and arrests for drunk driving. In 2011, the NSC estimated that there would be roughly 400 traffic fatalities over the course of Labor Day Weekend, and nearly 39,000 injuries would occur from motor vehicle collisions. For the previous six years before the report was issued, Labor Day weekend had 14.6 percent more fatalities than other similar non-holiday periods. Similarly to the increased number of enforcement officers in Elgin County, a nationwide increase in patrol officers is seen on holiday weekends like Labor Day and is meant to “focus their attention on impaired drivers.”

Drunk driving is dangerous no matter how you cut it, but oftentimes getting behind the wheel when drinking can cause a driver to take risks that would normally not be taken when sober. Not only does alcohol tend to cause a person to more easily lose control in situations he otherwise would not, a person is less likely to take safety precautions—such as wearing a seat belt—if he has been drinking.

According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, “drivers involved in fatal crashes who have been drinking use safety belts at a substantially lower rate than sober drivers.” In fact, only 12.3 percent of fatally injured drunk drivers were using a seatbelt at the time of crash and death. Nearly 37 percent of sober drivers killed in a car accident were wearing a safety belt at the time of the accident.

The National Safety Council notes that 49 states (except New Hampshire) have seat belt laws, thus requiring all drivers and passengers to wear a seat belt. Only 31 states, however, have laws that allow police to stop a vehicle for the primary enforcement of seat belt usage. This means that cops can issue citations for the failure of vehicle occupants to wear a seat belt, even if the driver had made no other offense.

Drunk driving continues to be a serious offense that is costly not only to the perpetrator, but to potential victims, highway patrol, and the state DOT. In 2012, the most recent year for which data was available, there were a staggering 37,126 DUI arrests in Illinois, according to the 2014 Illinois DUI Fact Book.

More than 90 percent of all people arrested for DUI lost their driving privilege. Length and context of punishment, however, is determined by the severity of the incident. The vast majority (86 percent) of all people arrested for DUI were first-time offenders and also male. Women only made up 23 percent of those arrested.

If pulled over for DUI in Illinois, you can refuse a blood alcohol content (BAC) test, but will likely face longer probation periods. If, for example, you are charged with DUI as a first offense and you agree to chemical testing, your license will be suspended for six months. If you refuse chemical testing, you license will be suspended for a year. If there has been an accident that resulted in great bodily harm or death, a police officer is required by law to request a chemical test. In the event that a person refuses, he will have his license suspended for up to 12 months. It is all rather straightforward—if you drink and drive, your license is suspended. Yet if you are in the country illegally, a single DUI arrest can flip your world upside down.

If you are injured in an accident in the greater Chicago area, you are not without recourse. DUI in Illinois is considered a violent crime, and if you have been a victim of a DUI crime, you have the same rights as anyone involved in any other type of violent crime. According to the 2014 Illinois DUI Factbook, a victim of a DUI has the right to (including, but not limited to):

• Communicate with the prosecution;
• Have the case proceed in a timely manner following the arrest of the alleged DUI driver;
• Make a statement at sentencing in court;
• Be notified of any and all legal proceedings;
• Restitution (payments made to the victim or victim’s family following a violent crime).

Secretary of State Jesse White also notes that DUI-related crash victims have the right to “be treated with fairness and respected for their dignity and privacy throughout the criminal justice process.”

This could mean the avoidance of news outlets or media attention, if the family so desires. Many DUI crashes are well-publicized news stories, though the victim or family of the victim may want to stay out of the limelight following the incident. If you feel that you are being disrespected or your privacy is being invaded following a DUI incident, the most important thing you can do is contact an Illinois accident attorney.