A Nationwide Network of DUI and DWI Defense Attorneys

Quite a number of states used to apply a BAC limit of .15 to any drivers within its borders. This .15 BAC limit was actually recommended by the American Medical Association, experts in the field of medicine and chemistry. In fact, the .15 BAC limit was not even considered absolutely intoxicated, the way .08 is today, but it was considered "presumed" intoxicated, which meant the driver could rebut this evidence. In court rooms today, if a driver is at .08 BAC he cannot rebut the evidence, he can only prove the evidence is wrong.

From 1980 forward, political pressure to lower the legal limits was unprecedented on legislative bodies everywhere from groups like M.A.D.D., or Mothers Against Drunk Drivers. The initial political push resulted in most states adopting the BAC limit of .10. When that lower limit did not result in a sufficient amount of convictions for DUI, M.A.D.D. and other similar interest groups, push for the limits to go even lower.

In the year 2000, Congress established a national standard of .08 percent alcohol concentration as part of a large transportation funding bill. This required all 50 states to lower their limits to .08 by the year 2004 or risk losing millions and millions of dollars in highway and transportation funding. States had their hands forced and now we see the .08 BAC limit everywhere.

While M.A.D.D. has been successful in lowering limits, it's mission seems to have gone from eliminating drunk driving to eliminating alcohol. Within just 5 years of founding the organization, Candy Lightner, resigned, stating that MADD "has become far more neo-prohibitionist than I had ever wanted or envisioned … I didn't start MADD to deal with alcohol. I started MADD to deal with the issue of drunk driving." Source: The Washington Times, Article date: August 6, 2002.

Consuming alcohol by any individual has its own distinct effect. To reach a BAC of .08, the amount of alcohol it takes by one person may differ from another. Many factors weigh into the alcohol concentration levels, including how many drinks were consumed, how strong the drinks were, how much an individual weighs, what the individual had to eat and when, the gender of the individual and the individual's rate of metabolism.

It is important to retain an attorney who is highly experienced in Illinois DUI law. In addition, your attorney must be familiar with the county in which you are charged. Your Lee County DUI Attorney may be able to challenge various portions of summary suspension. In addition to challenging the suspension, your Lee County DUI Attorney may able to have the criminal case dismissed or reduced from a DUI.