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What Are the Consequences of Reckless Homicide in Illinois?
As most Illinoisans know, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol (DUI) laws in the state are strict. You can be convicted of a DUI in Illinois if you are driving a vehicle with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of more than 0.08 percent or if other evidence points to you being impaired while driving. Even a first-time conviction for DUI in Illinois can result in fines between $75 and $2,500, up to one year in jail, and a one-year driver’s license suspension. Those penalties can change, however, depending on the circumstances of your case. In Illinois, any DUI offense that results in felony charges is classified as an aggravated DUI. One of the most serious aggravated DUI charges is called reckless homicide.
What Is Reckless Homicide?
In Illinois, reckless homicide occurs when a person using a motor vehicle unintentionally kills another person because of actions that were likely to cause death or bodily harm to another person. Under normal circumstances, actions that could be considered reckless include those such as speeding or causing the vehicle to become airborne. If a driver is intoxicated, and he or she caused the death of another person while driving, the fact that the motorist was under the influence in itself constitutes reckless driving.
Involuntary manslaughter and reckless homicide are two very similar charges and are actually listed under the same statute in Illinois. The only thing that separates them is the fact that reckless homicide occurs when a motor vehicle is used to accidentally kill someone.
Penalties for a Reckless Homicide Conviction
In the most basic form, reckless homicide is charged as a Class 3 felony in Illinois, meaning offenders can face two to five years in prison and up to $25,000 in fines. Depending on the circumstances of the particular case, the charges can increase to more serious felony charges. For example, if the crime was committed in a school or construction zone or was committed against a police officer, the charges will be increased to a Class 2 felony. This means an offender may face 3 to 14 years in prison and up to $25,000 in fines.
Contact an Arlington Heights, IL Criminal Defense Lawyer
Even if your actions were unintentional when you caused an accident that killed a person, you will be charged with a crime. Although reckless homicide is not punished as severely as regular homicide, it is still a felony charge that could follow you for the rest of your life. Because of this, it is crucial that you hire a skilled and knowledgeable Rolling Meadows, IL reckless homicide defense attorney as soon as possible. Scott F. Anderson, Attorney at Law understands how serious these criminal charges are, and he will do his best to help you avoid a conviction at all costs. To schedule your free consultation, call our office today at 847-253-3400.
Sources:
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs5.asp?ActID=1999&ChapterID=55
https://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/pdf_publications/dsd_a118.pdf
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=072000050K9-3
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