Posted on May 18, 2018 in Traffic Offenses

While many believe reckless driving to be a minor offense, in reality it can lead to serious consequences that have lasting effects. As such, if you have been charged with reckless driving in Illinois, we ask you to reach out to us today for professional help.

What is Reckless Driving?

In Illinois, reckless driving is governed by statute 625 ILCS 5/11-305. There are two situations in which a person can be found guilty of reckless driving:

1. A person who drives “with willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property” is said to be driving recklessly; and
2. A person who knowingly drives “a vehicle and uses an incline in a roadway, such as a railroad crossing, bridge approach, or hill, to cause the vehicle to become airborne” is driving recklessly.

Common examples of reckless driving include a person who is driving at a high rate of speed, someone who is driving erratically, or any other type of driving that might rise to the level of negligent driving. Driving erratically includes drivers who swerve in and out of lanes without notice and without the use of their turn signals.

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 Posted on May 15, 2018 in Domestic Abuse

Domestic violence is a rather broad legal term that includes a variety of abusive behavior, including but not limited to assault, battery, stalking, intimidation, or sexual coercion. Such actions are considered to be domestic violence when they are committed by a person against a romantic partner, family members, or members of the same household. While male-against-female violence is the most commonly discussed type of domestic abuse, the reality is that both men and women can be victims, and both men and women can commit acts of domestic violence.

Federal estimates indicate that nearly 20 individuals are physically abused by a romantic partner in the United States every minute. Over the course of a year, this translates to more than 10 million instances of victimization. It is estimated that one in three women and one in four men have experienced some type of physical violence at the hands of an intimate partner at least once in their lives.

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 Posted on May 14, 2018 in Criminal Defense

When sentencing an individual upon conviction of a charge, a judge often has a variety of options available. One of the most common types of sentencing in Illinois involves placing an individual on probation.

Probation is a sentence that requires a defendant to adhere to certain supervision rules to ensure thatthe defendant isnot committing other crimes andis being rehabilitated afterhis or her conviction. An individual must follow the terms ofhis or her probation exactly, otherwisehe or she could be found inviolation of his or her probation.

Of course, violating probation has consequences. If you have violated your probation, there are defenses and options available to you, and it is in your best interests to contact an attorney immediately for help.

What is Probation?

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 Posted on May 10, 2018 in DUI/DWI

If you have been charged with driving under the influence (DUI) in Illinois, you need a skilled and experienced DUI attorney to handle your case. Finding the right attorney for you is important. An attorney is not one size fits all. Therefore, it is essential to ask any potential DUI attorney questions to ensure that a successful and productive attorney-client relationship will result.

Questions to Ask an Attorney

If you are facing DUI charges, make sure to ask these five questions of any attorney you contact:

1. How much experience do you have handling DUI cases? It is important to have an attorney who has experience handling cases like yours. Experience brings about confidence and a knowledge level that can assist you in your case. Additionally, asking the results of different cases can give you an idea of what could happen in your situation.

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 Posted on May 07, 2018 in Traffic Offenses

You may not think that a traffic ticket is a big deal,that they happen every day, and that you do not need an attorney if you receive one. This is simply not true. While there are “minor” traffic violations, like running a stop sign or improperly changing lanes, there are still consequences for even the smallest ticket. Hiring an attorney can help you avoid these consequences and keep your driving record clean.

Provide Experience

When you fight a ticket yourself, you are relying on your own experience. If this is your first traffic ticket, or the first time that you are fighting a traffic ticket, you may not know exactly what to do. Even if this is not your first ticket, you likely do not have the same experience that an attorney has in traffic court. An attorney knows the law well and knows how to challenge the validity of a traffic ticket.

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 Posted on April 26, 2018 in Traffic Offenses

The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution grants us the right be free from unreasonable searches and seizures. Searches are scrutinized to make sure that an individual’s constitutional rights are not infringed upon.

There are numerous cases in which a person is pulled over for a seemingly routine traffic stop, but it results in the search of the individual’s car and a potential arrest if illegal behavior or substances are found. However, a police officer does not always have the right to search your vehicle at just any traffic spot.

Ultimately, if you have been stopped by the police and placed under arrest, it is in your best interests to contact an attorney immediately. To be sure, an experienced lawyer can examine the specifics of your case and begin mounting an aggressive defense.

Valid Police Search of Your Vehicle

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 Posted on April 24, 2018 in Criminal Defense

In Illinois,trespassingcan occur in several waysand include trespass to vehicles, trespass to real property, and trespass through the use of electronic tracking devices. Generally, trespassing is a misdemeanor crime. However, some properties hold a felony charge. One such example is trespassing on government buildings. Trespassing on government buildings will likely result in a felony trespassing charge. The intention behind the trespassing is also considered when assessing the severity of the crime and the appropriate punishments to follow.

Types of trespassing crimes in Illinois include the following:

• Criminal Trespass to Vehicles: Criminal trespass to vehicles is defined as a person entering any part of, or operating, any vehicle, aircraft, watercraft, or snowmobile. The individual must knowingly enter the vehicle and must not have any authority to do so.

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 Posted on April 20, 2018 in Disorderly conduct

Facing charges of disorderly conduct can be a truly frightening experience. To be sure, you may not understand the charges, nor how to effectively deal with the criminal justice system. If you find yourself in this situation, it is in your best interests to contact an attorney immediately. A legal professional can advocate aggressively on your behalf to help protect your rights throughout each step of the process.

What is Disorderly Conduct?

Under Illinois law, there are12 instances in which you can be charged with disorderly conduct. These actions are:

1. Acting in way that disturbs another and provoke a breach of peace;
2. Reporting, or inciting another to report a fire when the individual knows that there is no fire;
3. Reporting a bomb or other explosive device when the individual knows that there is no threat of a bomb or explosive device and Reporting a bomb threat to a school when there is no threat;

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 Posted on April 18, 2018 in Criminal Defense

By now, most drivers are aware that using a cell phone while driving is a dangerous proposition. Public awareness campaigns around the country have been urging drivers for years to put their phones down when behind the wheel for the sake of the safety. In addition to being unsafe, using a hand-held cell phone while driving is also illegal in many jurisdictions, including Illinois. If you are caught using a hand-held electronic device for talking or texting, you can be cited and fined up to $75 for a first offense.

Understanding the Law

That statute that governs the use of cell phones while driving in Illinois actually applies to a wide range of "electronic communication devices," including personal digital assistants (PDAs), electronic tablets-such as iPads-laptop computers, and of course, "hand-held wireless telephones." The law expressly states that the limitation on the use of electronic devices while driving does not apply to GPS devices, navigation systems, or any "device that is physically or electronically integrated into the motor vehicle."  Unfortunately, systems that fall into the last category have become increasingly popular in recent years, and the dangers are only growing.

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 Posted on April 17, 2018 in DUI/DWI

After drinking too much, the worst decision is to getinto a vehicle and drive. Taking a cab, ride share, or otherwise getting a ride home is the best option. However, some peoplemay want to ride their bike home after having a bit too much to drink.This option is safer than drivinga car; however, there are safety risks to riding a bike under the influence. Additionally, whilethere are certainly dangers to riding a bike under the influence of alcohol, and other states give DUIs to bike riders, you will not receive a DUI charge.

Illinois DUI Laws

Illinois DUI statute states that “a person shall not drive or be in actual physical control of any vehicle” while having a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or more. The definition of vehicle under Illinois law is a device that transports a person or property, “except devices moved by human power.” By definition, a bike is not categorized as a vehicle. A bike is “moved by human power.”

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