Although drinking and driving is always wrong, once in awhile, an otherwise responsible driver makes a poor decision and gets behind the wheel after drinking. Although it is still wrong and dangerous, a single, isolated lapse in judgment – if it does not lead to any harm – can be pardoned. But sometimes, a drunk-driving incident that leads to injuries or death involves a driver who has no previous DUI record, but whose history of reckless driving virtually guaranteed that something bad would happen sooner or later, such as an alcohol-related accident.
That could is something that could be said of Rakesh Baker of Chicago, Illinois. According to a story posted to the website of the Chicago Tribune. In one incident in April 2007, he was fined for driving with a suspended license, disregarding a traffic signal, and operating a vehicle without insurance. He was also issued speeding tickets three times in 2010 – for driving 15 miles per hour above the speed limit in March of that year, driving 47 mph in a 30 mph zone in May, and going 58 in a 40 mph zone in December. The Tribune, citing court records, reports that Baker paid fines in all three incidents. In all, Baker had been cited for over half a dozen traffic violations between 2007 in his latest incident earlier this year.
Baker was arrested in the early morning hours of Friday, February 3 for driving his SUV the wrong way for five miles along a major Chicago expressway. About ten minutes after police began receiving calls about a wrong-way driver on the Stevenson Expressway, Baker collided head-on with a Toyota Corolla driven by a 24-year-old woman. Although Baker and the other driver were listed in serious-to-critical condition, their injuries were not considered life-threatening. No one else was injured in the accident. Baker, who has been hospitalized, will be arrested after his release unless he can post bail. He has been charged with driving under the influence, driving the wrong way, failure to reduce speed, and operating a vehicle without insurance. Obviously, he will be facing severe penalties if convicted, given his extensive record and previous run-ins with the law.
If you have been pulled over, arrested and charged with drunk driving, you should contact an experienced Orange County DUI lawyer right away. A first-time conviction for drinking and driving could lead to jail time or probation, heavy fines, suspension of a driver’s license, and mandatory completion of a DUI program – and this is only a partial list of possible penalties that can be imposed by the court. If you have a DUI on your record, another conviction can lead to substantially tougher penalties. The impact on your personal and professional life could be just as bad. For that reason, having a tough, experienced DUI lawyer on your side as you deal with the legal system could help you obtain a satisfactory resolution to your case. Contact an experienced Orange County DUI lawyer now so that together, you can begin to deal with your situation in an informed and appropriate manner.
