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Recent Blog Posts
School Bus Math: Illegal Passing = Fines + License Suspension
If you are driving down the road and see a school bus stop to drop off kids, do you know what to do? If you fail to respond correctly, you could find yourself facing an expensive traffic ticket
Illinois School Bus Laws
Illinois Law (625 ILCS 5/11-1414) provides specific rules for approaching, overtaking, and passing a school bus. Flashing amber lamps provide a warning that a bus is within 100 yards of stopping in an urban area or within 200 yards of stopping in rural areas. When you see flashing amber lights on a bus, slow down and be prepared to stop.
When the bus actually stops, its red signal lamps will flash, and its stop sign arm will be extended. The law requires you to stop at least 20 feet from a stopped school bus displaying these signals. Watch for children crossing the street in front of the bus until they have safely completed their walk between bus and curb. Motorists may not proceed until the the school bus resumes motion or the school bus driver signals you that it is okay for you to proceed.
Understanding Domestic Violence Orders of Protection in Illinois
It is normal to have disagreements with those you are close to, but sometimes those disagreements can escalate quickly, and things can get heated. If there are allegations that you were violent or abusive toward someone you were close to, you can be accused of domestic violence, and if you are convicted, this charge can follow you for the rest of your life. If an order of protection is filed against you, living your life normally will be very difficult, which is why it is important to choose an adept defense attorney if you have been accused of domestic violence.
Illinois’ Definition of Domestic Violence
Domestic violence takes place between “family or household members” and occurs when one of them commits an act of “abuse” against another. According to the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986, family or household members can be:
Penalties for Driving With a Suspended or Revoked License in Illinois
There are many ways you can have your license suspended or revoked in Illinois - maybe you failed a DUI chemical test, refused to take one, or just accumulated too many points on your driving record. Having your license suspended or revoked can be stressful and troublesome, but the last thing you want to do is be caught behind the wheel while you are not legally allowed to drive. This can lead to longer suspension or revocation periods, expensive fines, and, in some cases, even jail time. If you have a suspended or revoked license, there are ways to get your driving privileges reinstated, but unless it is an absolute emergency and you have no other means of transportation, you should not operate a motor vehicle without a valid driver’s license.
First Offense
If you are caught driving with a suspended or revoked license, you will be charged with a Class A misdemeanor the first offense. This means you could be facing up to a year in prison and fines up to $2,500. If your license was suspended or revoked due to a situation involving reckless homicide or aggravated DUI, a first offense is a Class 4 felony.
Fleeing or Attempting to Elude Police Is a Criminal Offense
Unless you are lucky, you probably have experienced the feeling that you get when you are about to be pulled over by the police. Red and blue lights are flashing behind you, you hear the sound of the siren, and you get a sinking feeling of dread in your stomach. In situations like this, it is important that you obey what police are trying to tell you: pull over. In some cases, your natural fight or flight response tells you to run away from police, but that is one of the worst things you can do. Fleeing police is a crime that is not taken lightly and can result in serious consequences, such as a license suspension or revocation.
Illinois Vehicle Code Definitions
There are two separate offenses that you could be charged with if you decide to flee or attempt to elude police when they are trying to pull you over:
What You Should Know About License Plate Reading Cameras
One of the newer weapons in the arsenal of Illinois law enforcement is the license plate reading camera, which police departments are using to identify the vehicles of people who may be subject to criminal charges.
In 2018, Illinois cities such as Rockford and Chicago have expanded their use of these mobile license plate reading cameras, and Illinois residents should be aware of how this technology may affect them.
How Mobile License Plate Reading Cameras Work
The Rockford license plate camera system is described as follows:
- Computer-controlled cameras are installed on the roof of several city police cars.
- The cameras automatically snap photos of vehicle license plates as the squad cars drive down the street, including the plates of parked cars, as well as cars driving in front of or passing by the police cars. The vehicles’ location, date, and time are attached to the images for future reference.
Making a False Police Report is a Crime
Law enforcement officers in Washington State recently jumped into action when they received a call from citizens who believed they were witnessing an abduction in an Olympia park. About 10 hours later, a statement from the Washington State Patrol—Washington’s version of the state police—confirmed that the abduction was not real and, in fact, was part of an elaborate “escape room-style kidnapping” with no actual harm intended. Local prosecutors are now deciding whether to file charges.
A Scary Situation
According to the Washington State Patrol (WSP), the law enforcement agency received a call at about 10:30 pm on Wednesday, August 22. The report indicated that a possible abduction had taken place at Heritage Park in the state capital of Olympia. Witnesses indicated that several men in white plastic suits had grabbed three victims—all of them children—and restrained them with zip-ties. The children were reportedly placed in the back of a red pick-up truck.
Why Do Chicago Police Struggle to Solve Shooting Cases?
The City of Chicago has been making headlines for all the wrong reasons again. While 2018 began with a hopeful stretch of months in which the rate of gun violence dropped across the region, things seem to have taken a turn for the worse. In a single weekend in early August, for example, 74 people were shot—the city’s worst weekend in over two years. What is worse is that by Wednesday of the following week, Chicago police had not made a single arrest in connection with the shootings. Unfortunately, this is not a new trend, as available data shows that the city’s police department only solves about one in 20 shootings—a tragic 5 percent success rate.
Telling Numbers
According to information obtained by the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Police Department (CPD) officially cleared about 17 percent of the homicides committed last year. “Cleared,” however, does not always mean “solved.” A case is reported as cleared if the department simply identifies a suspect, even if the person is never arrested or charged. The numbers are far worse for non-fatal shootings. The University of Chicago Crime Lab analyzed CPD records for 2016 and found a clearance rate of just 5 percent.
New Illinois Law Allows Children Access to Medical Cannabis at School
Few topics have been as hotly debated as medical marijuana. Once considered only a dangerous “gateway” drug, cannabis and hemp products are now gaining acceptance as legitimate medicines. Seizure conditions, glaucoma, Crohn’s disease, and even post-traumatic stress disorder have been successfully treated with cannabis products. Cannabidiol (CBD) oil is being sold legally across the country and used by thousands of individuals for everything from joint pain to anxiety. Now, school children in Illinois who benefit from the medicinal powers of cannabis will be able to consume cannabis-infused products on school premises.
Only Medicinal Marijuana in Non-Smoke Forms Will Be Permitted on School Grounds
Legislation signed by Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner will now allow school children who use cannabis to treat symptoms from a medical condition to consume cannabis on school grounds. Parents who register with the Department of Public Health and have children who qualify for medical marijuana will be permitted to administer cannabis products to those children on school buses and on school property. To be clear, children will not be allowed to actually smoke marijuana in schools. Only cannabis-infused products such as food, sublingual oils, or topical patches will be permitted.
School Zone Speeding Tickets and Penalties
As the fall semester starts, drivers need to remember to dial back their speeds in school zones when children are present.
Here are the key things Illinois drivers need to know about school zone speed limits and the penalties for violating them:
When Is the School Zone Speed Limit in Effect?
The 20 mph school zone speed limit is only in effect when school is in session and children are physically present on or near the street, generally between the hours of 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. The school zone speed limit is 20 mph regardless of the speed limit for the rest of that road.
You are not required to reduce your speed when the children are all inside the school, and you are not required to reduce your speed on weekends and holidays when school is not in session.
Be forewarned: Illinois law allows the use of electronic speed-detection devices around school zones for the purpose of speed enforcement and ticketing (625 ILCS 5/11-605).
New Law Increases Consequences for Texting While Driving in Illinois
A new law that was recently enacted in Illinois will increase the consequences that drivers face when they choose to text while driving. House Bill 4846, which was backed by State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin), makes a first-time offense of using an electronic device while driving a moving violation , rather than just a warning. The bill was supported by Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner, the Illinois Secretary of State, and the Illinois State Police.
First-Time Offenses Are No Longer Just Warnings
Under the new law, which will take effect in July 2019, drivers only need to be caught using an electronic device once for the offense to be considered a moving violation. The Illinois Vehicle Code currently states that drivers must be caught using an electronic device while driving at least twice before any disciplinary action is taken against them. When the new law goes into effect, not only will first-offense violations be added to one’s driving record, but violators will also face a license suspension if they are caught three times within a 12-month period. Drivers will also face fines as follows for violations:
