Arrests By Conservation Officers Can Lead to Serious Criminal Charges

 Posted on April 26, 2018 in Uncategorized

You might think you are safe to do what you please when you are out in the woods or on the lake. But you would be wrong, as evidenced by some of the citations issued and arrests made by the conservation officers of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Some of these stories will sound amusing, but the criminal charges are nothing but serious.

Drunk Snowmobile Driver Gets Caught in a Crash

In February 2018, an Illinois conservation officer followed up on a snowmobile crash in which the operator was injured. The crash investigation had resulted in the operator being cited for snowmobile DUI. The operator pled guilty to both charges. He was assigned court supervision, ordered to pay a fine and court costs totaling $1,190, and required to undergo drug and alcohol treatment.

Do Not Pee in Public by Your Pick-Up

A conservation officer driving along a highway observed a stopped pickup truck whose driver was outside the truck urinating. When the driver noticed the CO approaching, he quickly re-entered his vehicle and tossed a beer can behind his seat. The CO performed field sobriety tests, which the driver failed. A deputy with the county sheriff’s office was summoned to transport the driver to jail. The driver was charged with DUI (he had a blood alcohol level of 0.65%), illegal transportation of alcohol, and improper parking on the roadway.

No Matter What, Keep Your Vehicle Registration Up-to-Date

A conservation officer observed the vehicle in front of him to have an expired registration decal. A registration check showed that the registered owner of the vehicle had a suspended driver’s license, so the CO pulled the vehicle over. During the traffic stop, the driver was found to be in possession of cannabis and paraphernalia. The vehicle was towed, and the driver was cited for driving with a suspended license, lack of insurance, and possession.

Trust an Experienced Joliet Criminal Defense Attorney

If you have been snared by the “green pants,” the criminal charges you may face are just as serious as if you were arrested by the Illinois State Police, county sheriff, or city police. If the charges involve something you really do not want on your criminal record, such as drunk driving or drug-related charges, you will want to aggressively fight the charges. To determine your best defense strategy, consult a knowledgeable Will County Criminal Defense lawyer as soon as possible. Call the Law Offices of Jack L. Zaremba, P.C. at 815-740-4025 for a free and confidential consultation; phone calls are answered 24 hours a day.