Elmhurst police say a Sunday traffic stop ended with a 24-year-old Addison man under arrest, a 22-month-old child in the back seat and a breath test that allegedly showed more than twice the legal blood-alcohol limit.
Authorities identified the driver as Alexis Lara. According to prosecutors, a breath sample taken after his arrest registered a .208 blood-alcohol content, and he now faces multiple aggravated DUI counts along with related traffic offenses under Illinois law.
Police Account Of The Traffic Stop
According to a post from the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office, Elmhurst officers were dispatched to a disturbance call near Schiller Street and Hampshire Drive. A short time later, officers reported seeing a vehicle that was struggling to stay in its lane and pulled it over near Schiller Street and Clinton Avenue.
Police said the driver showed several signs of impairment, including red, bloodshot and watery eyes, slurred speech and the odor of an alcoholic beverage. Officers also reported finding three open bottles of Modelo inside the car. After administering standardized field sobriety tests, officers arrested the driver. Prosecutors say a subsequent breath test put Lara's BAC at .208.
Officials Respond
In the statement, DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin emphasized that “driving is a privilege, not a right,” while Elmhurst Chief of Police Michael McLean warned that “drunk driving is deadly, but it is also 100% preventable.”
The post identifies the defendant as 24-year-old Alexis Lara of the 100 block of North May Street in Addison and notes that he is currently on probation for an earlier aggravated DUI.
Charges, Pretrial Terms And Court Calendar
Prosecutors have charged Lara with four counts of aggravated DUI, all Class 2 felonies, along with several misdemeanor and petty traffic offenses that include endangering the health or life of a child.
A judge denied the state's request to block pretrial release but set a series of conditions. Court records show Lara must wear an electronic SCRAM alcohol monitor, is barred from possessing or consuming alcohol or non-prescribed controlled substances, and is prohibited from operating motor vehicles.
Records also note that Lara has two prior DUI convictions. His next court date is scheduled for April 27, 2026, before Judge Ann Celine O'Hallaren Walsh.
Potential Penalties Under Illinois Law
Under the Illinois Vehicle Code, repeated DUI offenses and certain aggravating factors can elevate a charge to aggravated DUI under 625 ILCS 5/11-501. State sentencing law and case history indicate that a Class 2 felony typically carries a multi-year prison term, commonly in the range of 3 to 7 years, although some aggravated circumstances can increase the possible sentence. Prior convictions, the presence of a child in the car and a very high BAC will all factor into how prosecutors and the court approach potential punishment. For more detail, see the Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/11-501) and state sentencing guidance.
Child-Safety Context
National data underline how risky impaired driving is for young passengers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that a substantial share of child passenger deaths involve alcohol-impaired drivers, and that children riding with drinking drivers are less likely to be properly restrained. For more on those trends, see the CDC child passenger safety data.
Prosecutors have pointed to that risk in explaining why they pushed for strict no-alcohol terms and continuous monitoring in this case, saying the conditions are aimed at protecting both the child involved and the wider community.
What’s Next
The case is set to return to court on April 27, 2026, and prosecutors could file additional paperwork as they prepare for trial. Officials are asking anyone with information related to the incident to contact Elmhurst police or the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office.
