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Recent Blog Posts
The Consequences of Speeding in Illinois
Most drivers will admit to having sped at least once or twice in their lives. Unfortunately, speeding can increase the risk and severity of an accident, and it can lead to harsh penalties. Furthermore, Illinois has some of the most serious penalties in the nation for speeding, particularly for those that exceed the speed limit by at least 20 miles per hour. Learn more about the consequences of speeding, including how to protect yourself from them.
Low-Level Speeding Violations
If you are caught driving over the speed limit, but your speed did not exceed 25 miles per hour at the time of the infraction, you may receive a ticket for a “low-level speeding” violation. At first glance, this might not seem like such a big deal, but some consequences should be considered. On top of the fine that may be owed, you could also experience a hike in your insurance premiums. In fact, one analysis determined the insurance premium increase after a speeding ticket can cost Illinois drivers as much as an extra $900 over the course of five years.
What Happens After Your First DUI Arrest?
If you have never been charged with a DUI, the experience of being arrested was likely traumatizing. Unfortunately, the process is not yet complete. Instead, you must deal with the after effects – the charges and their consequences. What can you expect? Hopefully, a dismissal of your case, which may be possible if you take a proactive approach to your case.
Facing the Charges Head On
No matter how much you might want the recent arrest to be nothing more than a horrible nightmare, the truth is that the charges will not disappear on their own. You must fight against them and prove that you were not intoxicated above the legal limit, or that the arrest was otherwise wrongful or unwarranted. It is highly recommended that you seek assistance from an experienced attorney. Not only can they ensure your rights are upheld throughout the process, they are also well-versed in the DUI laws and police procedures. This knowledge alone could potentially impact the outcome of your case.
Illinois’ DUI Limits – What is BAC and How Might It Impact Your Case?
Lawmakers say that no amount of alcohol is considered safe for drivers, but one drink may not trigger a DUI arrest. So, just how much does it take before one is arrested on DUI charges, and how might your blood alcohol concentration impact your case? The following explains, and it provides you with some key details on how to fight back.
What is BAC?
Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is the amount of alcohol in your bloodstream. Numerous factors, including weight, the number of drinks, gender, stomach contents at the time of consumption, and overall health can all impact this concentration. That can make determining your exact BAC after drinking rather difficult. Moreover, it can influence how long you must wait to drive after having one, two, three, or four drinks. If ever in doubt, play it safe and call a cab or designated driver to take you home; it is far better than taking the risk of a DUI arrest.
Distracted Driving Awareness and DUI Checkpoints Over Memorial Day Weekend
This Memorial Day weekend will be a triple threat for Illinois residents. There will be more DUI checkpoints and seatbelt checkpoints, which could ultimately result in a sobriety test. It is also distracted driving awareness week, and officers are already cracking down on drivers using their cellphones while behind the wheel. Learn more about how to protect yourself this weekend, and what you can do if you or someone you love falls victim to one of these extra measures.
Play It Extra Safe
Most drivers know their limits. They wait until they can drive safely, or they call a cab or assign a designated driver to avoid driving while intoxicated. Unfortunately, with more DUI checkpoints, drivers may be more likely to receive a sobriety test. News reporters have found this test to be difficult, even for sober people. If you fail, you may be asked to take a breathalyzer. If the machine is improperly calibrated or used incorrectly and you have had just one drink, you could find yourself behind bars for the night.
Speeding Tickets: Lidar versus Radar
As technology advances so do law enforcement techniques. In fact, many city, county, and federal officers have become tech savvy enough to navigate through Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites. Another major advancement is how they use equipment to track speeding drivers. More specifically, there are two basic technologies: Lidar and Radar. What are these techniques, and what might they mean for your case? The following explains.
Radar Technology
First used in law enforcement in 1954, radar is an older technology. It uses a short, high-intensity of high-frequency radio waves to track speed. It is rather accurate, but there are some serious limitations to this technology. First, the device shoots the waves in a cone-shaped structure, which can target the largest vehicle, the fastest vehicle, or the closest vehicle. In short, it can be difficult to discern which vehicle the device targeted, especially when using it in congested traffic areas.
Fulfilling Your Court-Ordered Community Service Requirements
Community service can serve as a viable alternative to more serious criminal consequences. However, one must be willing to meet all the requirements of their community service conditions. Failure to do so can invalidate the agreement and may ultimately result in a default on your charges. Learn more about fulfilling your community service requirements, and what you can do if you experience any troubles along the way.
Where to Complete Your Community Service
Valid community service hours can only be completed at non-profit organizations. Further, the organization must be willing to accept you as a volunteer; this can often be the most challenging and frustrating aspect of completing your community service requirements. Not every location will have an opening, some have set limits on the number of hours that they accept volunteers, and there may be additional restrictions on where you can volunteer. A few places to look might include:
Criminal Case Basics: Even Your Social Media Account Can Be Used Against You
If you have ever had your Miranda rights read to you, then you are familiar with the phrase, “Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law,” but did you know that this applies to more than just your words? Everything from camera footage obtained at the scene to the items in your pocket, and right on down to your social media account can be mined for information. Yes, that is correct: your social media account can be used as evidence in a criminal charges case. Worse yet, it could mean the difference between a dismissal and a guilty verdict. Learn more about protecting yourself with help from the following.
Direct Evidence of a Crime
One of the absolute worst things you can do on social media is broadcast your crime, yet many have done it. A group of teens that raped a young girl, the man that was arrested after he posted a video of himself drinking and driving, and the recent shooting of an elderly man were all caught on Facebook live. All these situations, and many others can be used as direct evidence of a crime. Of course, the information on your account does not have to be quite as blatant.
Restoring Your Driving Privileges After a DUI Conviction
Being convicted of a DUI is not just stressful and embarrassing; it can seriously impact your life. No longer can you simply jump in your car and drive to work or the store. Instead, you must walk, deal with public transit, or ask a friend or family member for a ride. Thankfully, there are some things you can do to try and restore driving privileges after a DUI conviction.
License Suspension versus Revocation
There are two ways your driving privileges can be removed: suspension and revocation. The process of restoring privileges is different for each. As such, it is important that you understand the difference between a suspension and a revocation. A suspension is a temporary loss of your license, and it typically has an expiration period. On the other hand, a revocation is a complete cancellation of your license. You can have it restored, but the process is highly complex.
How Much Does an Illinois DUI Conviction Cost?
When one is convicted of a DUI in Illinois, they face two main types of consequences: criminal and collateral. Those that are criminal in nature are consequences related to jail time, probation, and licensing suspensions. Collateral consequences are those that one faces because of the conviction. Examples include the increased cost of car insurance and difficulty obtaining a job because of a criminal record. Both types can result in significant financial losses.
Criminal Costs of an Illinois DUI Conviction
Criminal costs of a DUI are, perhaps, the easiest to measure. Most have a fee already attached to them. For example, the installation of a Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Device (BAIID) will cost $100 to install. In addition, all BAIID users must pay rental and monitoring fees, which cost $960 and $360 per year, respectively. Other common criminal costs that one can expect after a DUI conviction include:
Avoiding Legal Trouble as a Medical Marijuana Patient
Although the use of medical marijuana is legal in the state of Illinois, there are numerous rules and regulations that one must follow to avoid the possibility of criminal penalties. This risk remains, even for those with severe or debilitating conditions. Learn more about how to prevent legal trouble as a medical marijuana user, and what you can do if you should find yourself facing drug possession charges.
Understanding the Rules and Regulations
To qualify as a medical marijuana user in the state of Illinois, one must be a resident of the state. Further, you must have a qualifying medical condition and be at least 18 years of age. Individuals must also complete a fingerprint-based criminal background check. Further, you cannot be an active member of law enforcement or a firefighter, and you cannot have a commercial driver’s license (this includes licenses required for operating a school bus). Failure to meet any of these requirements could bar you from receiving your medical marijuana card.
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