Schedule a Free Consultation|
Call 815-740-4025
-
- Home
- Our Firm
- Criminal Defense
- Assault & Battery
- Domestic Battery / Domestic Violence
- DUI/DWI
- Drug Crimes
- Driver's License Reinstatement
- Speeding Tickets, Traffic Offenses & Violations
- CDL Violations
- Gun & Weapons Charges
- Felony Crimes
- Misdemeanor Crimes
- Juvenile Crimes
- Expungement & Record Sealing
- Resisting Arrest / Obstructing the Police
- Retail Theft & Shoplifting
- Police Questioning: When Miranda Warnings Are Required
- Media
- Blog
- Contact
Recent Blog Posts
As the Holiday Season Approaches - Don't Drink and Drive
In Chicago, the warm summer months have given way to cooler fall weather. This can mean only one thing: soon it will be the holiday season. While children prepare their Halloween costumes and treat bags, many adults are preparing for holiday parties and work get-togethers. A good percentage of these holiday events will involve alcohol.
It is no wonder that alcohol-related car accidents occur more frequently during the holidays. Research shows that approximately 300 people die in car accidents involving alcohol in the week between Christmas and New Year’s every year. Drunk driving not only puts your life and the lives of the other motorists on the road in danger, it also puts you at risk of receiving a DUI (driving under the influence). Being charged with a DUI can mean losing driving privileges or even spending time in jail.
Do Not Assume You Can Tell When You Are Too Intoxicated to Drive
Most people know that the legal limit for blood alcohol content (BAC) is 0.08 percent. However, many people do not realize what 0.08 percent BAC feels like. They may incorrectly assume that they are not legally impaired if they do not feel drunk. The reality is that it is nearly impossible to gauge how intoxicated a person is just by how they feel or act. Some people who are legally impaired may only show subtle signs of drunkenness while other individuals begin slurring their words or stumbling after only a few drinks. Many factors can influence a person’s BAC including
Guilt Beyond a Reasonable Doubt
In the American criminal justice system, a suspect is presumed to innocent until the government proves beyond a reasonable doubt that the suspect has committed a crime. Obviously, the most debatable part of that is “beyond a reasonable doubt.” What types of doubts are reasonable? And, reasonable doubt by whom? If you or someone you love has been charged with a crime, it is important to understand this crucial element of criminal law.
What Does Beyond a Reasonable Doubt Mean?
Depending on where you look, you might find dozens of variations on the definition of “beyond a reasonable doubt.” For example, West’s Encyclopedia of American Law says that “beyond a reasonable doubt” means that the only logical conclusion that can be drawn from the presented facts is that the defendant committed the crime. Other sources define the standard as proof “to a moral certainty.”
Speeding Tickets in Illinois
When you get a speeding ticket, do you know what your options are?
For petty offenses like speeding 10 to 20 mph over the limit, the most commonly chosen option is to check “Plead guilty and apply for court supervision” on the back of the ticket. You mail the ticket to the circuit court along with your fine and complete a driver safety course. As long as you keep a clean driving record until the end of the supervision period (usually three to four months), the violation will not appear on your driving record.
However, there are a few situations in which you may want to get an attorney and fight the ticket:
Three Convictions for Moving Violations in the Past 12 Months
If you have just gotten your fourth speeding ticket (or any other type of moving violation) within 12 months, there are several good reasons to try to fight it:
- Three moving violation convictions within 12 months will cause the Secretary of State to suspend your driver’s license for at least two to three months, and it is a hassle to get your license reinstated following a suspension.
Understanding Illinois Drug Crimes
Most people know the basic types of substances that are illegal in most states, but what you may not know is that there are many types of drug crimes you can be charged with, many of them at the same time. Each specific crime has its own requirements for sentencing if you are convicted of the crime, which is why it is important to understand what you are dealing with if you are facing a drug crime in Illinois.
Laws Concerning Illicit Drugs in Illinois
There are five acts in Illinois that govern the use, distribution, growth, manufacture, and sale of illegal drugs in the state. These acts include:
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.
