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Recent Blog Posts

Holiday Blues Trigger Opioid Use: Fentanyl Sales Increase

 Posted on January 04, 2023 in Uncategorized

Many Americans turn to opioids during the festive season to cope with the stress or the loneliness they may feel. Six percent of the population is triggered by seasonal affective disorder; another 14 percent suffer from winter blues. More than 107,000 died from an opioid overdose last year, yet the sale of street drugs is not letting up. If you are facing drug charges for the possession or sale of illegal drugs the Law Offices of Jack L. Zaremba, P.C., can help.

Caught Selling Fentanyl

In the state of Illinois last year more than 3,000 people died of an opioid overdose. Misuse and fake drugs are both contributing factors. Authorities and legislators are doing their part to solve the opioid epidemic. In Illinois, merely having possession of a drug is a felony, except for cannabis. If you are accused of transporting or selling drugs, you could face even greater penalties for drug trafficking or possession with intent to distribute.

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Pulled Over for DUI? Four Tips to Keep in Mind

 Posted on December 30, 2022 in Uncategorized

Nearly 700 Illinois police departments have been surveyed to determine how many DUI arrests have been made as authorities continue the fight against drunk driving. Will and Grundy counties both rank in the top 10 statewide. So, you can bet law enforcement in these counties will be on the lookout for drunk drivers this holiday season. If you are pulled over for DUI, there are four things you should always remember.

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol

Consuming alcohol can impair your ability to drive safely. In Illinois, it is illegal to drive with a Blood Alcohol Content of .08 or higher. Alcohol has been known to increase your chances of getting into a car accident. If you are pulled over for DUI, chances are a police officer will want to conduct a chemical test. In the state of Illinois, you can refuse the DUI breath test. However, refusal will trigger an automatic driver’s license suspension. If you are pulled over under suspicion of a DUI, it is important that you understand your rights and the potential legal consequences of your actions.

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Can You Evade a Sobriety Checkpoint?

 Posted on December 21, 2022 in Uncategorized

Sobriety checkpoints tend to sprout around cities during the holiday season when there is an increase in alcohol consumption paired with driving. Do not be surprised to see a DUI checkpoint on your way home from a holiday party. The purpose of sobriety checkpoints is to prevent drunk driving. Many people question the constitutionality of sobriety checkpoints and the legality of these checkpoints vary from state to state. Many wonder, what happens if you simply do not drive through the checkpoint or refuse to answer the officer’s questions?

Making a U-turn Instead of Driving Through a DUI Checkpoint?

If you see a DUI checkpoint, you do not necessarily have to drive through the checkpoint if there are legal alternative routes available to you. However, this tactic is not always the best course of action. Officers will usually monitor drivers who do not go through the checkpoint. Patrol cars are also around the area on the lookout for people who are appear to avoid the checkpoint.

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What to Expect at a DUI Checkpoint During the Holidays

 Posted on December 13, 2022 in Uncategorized

Tis’ the season for multiple sobriety checkpoints throughout Illinois. The consumption of alcohol and drugs tends to increase during the holiday season. The objective of the DUI checkpoints is to deter drunk driving in the interest of public safety. So what exactly happens at a DUI checkpoint, and what should a person do if they get charged with drunk driving at a checkpoint?

Field Sobriety Tests at a DUI Checkpoint

If you drive through a checkpoint, you may be signaled to stop by law enforcement. An officer will ask you to lower your window and turn off the car. They will want to see your driver’s license, registration, and proof of insurance. During this exchange, the officer will be looking for signs of intoxication, such as alcohol odor, slurred speech, and difficulty focusing. They want to make sure the driver can safely operate a motor vehicle.

When an officer suspects you are driving under the influence, you may be asked to step out of the car and conduct a field sobriety test using these top three methods:

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Are You Charged With Fleeing and Eluding Police?

 Posted on November 19, 2022 in Uncategorized

We have all seen high-speed chases on television with police in hot pursuit. Failing to pull over when a peace officer directs you to do so can be considered fleeing and eluding police. You can be arrested and slapped with serious charges. But what if you were listening to a song on the radio and had no idea police were behind you - or worse, what if you saw the bright lights, panicked, and hit the gas - what then? You may need an aggressive criminal defense attorney on your side to fight serious criminal charges.

Did You Willfully Evade Police?

If a police officer in Illinois tells you to do something verbally or uses a sign instructing you to stop your vehicle, you must comply. The officer can signal by hand, voice commands, flashing red and blue lights, or sirens.

Under the law, there must be no doubt that it is the police pulling you over, as it must display illuminated oscillating, rotating, or flashing red and blue lights. Anyone who willfully fails or refuses to obey the officer’s direction by speeding up could be charged with attempting to elude the officer.

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I Have Been Charged with DUI Hit-and-Run but Do Not Remember

 Posted on November 17, 2022 in Uncategorized

You may be waking up and seeing the world a bit more clearly but your legal problems are just getting started. You have been charged with a DUI and a hit and run. This combination of criminal charges is very serious in the eyes of the law. But what if you do not even remember the accident?

Required Information Exchange

Assuming that this is your real-life scenario, you are facing consequences for two separate crimes. It is illegal for a driver to flee the scene of an accident whether it is your fault or another driver is to blame. If there are injuries, you must remain at the scene and share information with the police and the other drivers. Leaving the scene of an accident could leave you facing felony charges and possible license revocation. Penalties depend on the circumstances surrounding the accident and the amount of damage.

Hit-and-run drivers often flee the scene of an accident because they do not want to get caught. Perhaps they were texting and driving or they were high on drugs at the time of impact. These drivers evade confrontation because they believe it is the best way to avoid punishment.

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I Need to Drive Again but I had a DUI

 Posted on November 14, 2022 in Uncategorized

Tired of taking the bus or asking friends to give you a ride? If you want to get behind the wheel again but have had your license suspended or revoked, do not go it alone. We believe everyone needs to drive and we will help you get a full license reinstatement whether you have several unpaid traffic tickets or were driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

An RDP Permit Will Get You Driving

If your driver’s license has been suspended or revoked, you may be able to get back on the road with a restricted driving permit (RDP). That permit will allow you to drive to work, take your kids to school, or go to a doctor’s appointment. Some clients are even eligible for a probationary permit, which will allow you to drive up to 12 hours a day, six days a week within a 200 mile radius. You will need to attend a hearing to prove your eligibility for the permit and you must drive with the permit for at least nine months before you are eligible for your next hearing.

If your license is revoked because of two or or more DUI convictions, you should expect to drive a vehicle with a Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Device for five years as a prerequisite for full reinstatement of your driving privileges. If you have four or more DUI convictions, your driver’s license will be revoked indefinitely, with some clients still being eligible for a RDP or clearance if you no longer live in the State of Illinois.

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Is Your Child Facing DUI Charges?

 Posted on November 10, 2022 in Uncategorized

If your teenager is facing drunk driving charges, the entire family may be feeling the stress and stigma. Even a first DUI offense could be costly and lead to jail time. This one mistake could haunt your teenager for months or years to come. If this sounds familiar, get help from an Illinois criminal defense lawyer who understands that mistakes happen and believes your child deserves a second chance.

Zero Tolerance for Minors Driving Under the Influence

There is a zero-tolerance law in Illinois for anyone under 21 caught drinking and driving. That means if your teenager has any detectable trace of alcohol in their system they could be arrested and charged with violating the Illinois Zero Tolerance law and/or a DUI. Because of this, your underage child may have just obtained their driver’s license and now they could be losing their driving privileges. Worse, their license could be revoked, which is more severe than a license suspension. They might even have to take a driving test again after the minimum waiting period is up. Here is a detailed breakdown of the possible consequences for violating Illinois’ Zero Tolerance law:

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Can DUI Blood Tests Be Inaccurate?

 Posted on November 08, 2022 in Uncategorized

When someone is arrested for alleged drunk driving, they are taken to the police station for further testing, including breath alcohol and blood alcohol tests. During a blood test, a small sample of the arrestee's blood is drawn and sent to a laboratory for analysis. The results of this test are generally admissible in court as evidence against the individual. However, it is important to keep in mind that these tests are not always accurate. In some cases, DUI blood tests can produce false positives.

Problems With Blood Alcohol Testing That May Reduce the Chances of a DUI Conviction

There are a number of factors that can contribute to inaccurate blood alcohol test results, including:

  • Problems during the blood draw - If the person taking the blood sample does not do so correctly, it can lead to inaccurate results. For example, if the needle used to draw the blood is not clean, it can contaminate the sample.
  • Improper storage or handling of the blood sample - If the blood sample is not stored or handled properly, it can also lead to inaccurate results. For example, if the blood sample is not refrigerated, it can break down, ferment, and produce inaccurate results.

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Shoplifting Charges in Illinois: What You Need to Know in 2022

 Posted on November 03, 2022 in Uncategorized

In response to the increased prevalence of organized shoplifting rings in the state, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker recently signed a bill that increases penalties for retail theft. The INFORM Act increases the penalties for organized retail theft to a Class 3 felony offense for items valued at $300 or more. Individuals who commit retail theft at multiple establishments could find themselves facing Class 2 felony charges.

If you are accused of shoplifting in Illinois, it is important to understand the laws and possible penalties you may face. Retail theft is a serious crime in Illinois, and those convicted can face significant fines and substantial jail time.

Criminal Charges for Retail Theft

Under Illinois law, retail theft occurs when someone knowingly:

  • Takes merchandise from a store without paying for it
  • Switches price tags to pay a lower price for an item
  • Conceals merchandise in order to leave the store without paying for it

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