DuPage County Board member Eckhoff charged with DUI

WHEATON – Longtime DuPage County Board member and Wheaton resident Grant Eckhoff was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol earlier this month.

Eckhoff, 55, of the 200 block of North Erie Street, was arrested at about 8:30 p.m. March 2 near his home at Beverly Street and Manchester Road, according to a report from the Wheaton Police Department.

He was also charged with operating an uninsured motor vehicle.

Eckhoff's attorney, Wheaton lawyer Harry Smith, said his client was initially pulled over for a traffic violation. He added that Eckhoff's vehicle was insured, but that he could not provide proof of insurance when asked.

Smith said Eckhoff had no prior criminal history, but confirmed he had been arrested for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol in 1986 before the case was dismissed and expunged due to lack of probable cause.

Smith also said Eckhoff intends to plead innocent, and that there will be a status hearing on the case in April.

Eckhoff, a Republican, has sat on the DuPage County Board as a District 4 representative since 2002 and was a member of the Wheaton City Council for four years before that. He won re-election for his seat in November, with his term expiring in late 2018.