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Local Municipalities, Counties Among Top for Illinois DUI Arrests
The Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists (AAIM) has released a series of lists including the number of driving under the influence (DUI) arrests and the arrest rates of Illinois law enforcement agencies for 2021. While the City of Chicago and Illinois State Police are categorized separately given their higher total numbers. A number of local counties and municipalities are near the top of the lists. If you have been arrested for DUI, an experienced attorney can help craft a strong defense.
2021 DUI Arrest Statistics for Illinois
On the 2021 total DUI arrest list, Lake and McHenry County deputies rank second and third respectively, while Will County is eighth. Just outside the top ten, Kane County had the 11th most arrests. Area municipalities including Aurora, Lombard, Elgin, Franklin Park, Carol Stream, Elmhurst, Naperville, and Cicero are all in the top ten for local police departments. The lists for counties and municipalities who arrested the most drunk drivers per sworn officer featured many of the same locales.
New Illinois Law Targets Smash and Grab Robberies
Amid rising numbers of organized robberies of large retail establishments by organized groups, the state of Illinois has passed a new law, known as the INFORM Act, which will increase penalties for organized retail theft. Governor J.B. Pritzker signed the bill in May, and it will go into effect on January 1, 2023. While the most high-profile cases of these types of robberies have occurred on Michigan Avenue in Chicago, other retail establishments can be vulnerable targets. It reverses the recent trend of lowering the charges for shoplifting and other retail theft in recent years. Shoplifting and retail theft charges can carry serious penalties and you should work with an experienced retail theft defense lawyer if you have been accused of these crimes.
Increased Penalties for Organized Theft
Under the new law, an individual who participates in an organized retail theft that steals more than $300 in merchandise can be charged with a Class 3 felony. If the offender engages in thefts from multiple commercial establishments, they could be facing Class 2 felony charges.
Getting Your License Back After a Suspension or Revocation in Illinois
Without a valid driver’s license, your ability to work, run errands, and take care of your family could be jeopardized. A suspension or revocation of your license may result from a DUI or serious traffic violation. No matter what reason you lost your license, an experienced driver’s license reinstatement attorney can help you get reinstated and get your life moving again.
Formal and Informal Hearings to Reinstate Your License
There is a process that must be followed before your license can be reinstated. If you drive on a suspended or revoked license, you could be charged with a Class A misdemeanor and risk stiff fines and even jail time.
If your license was suspended or revoked for minor traffic violations, a first-time DUI, or an offense that did not involve a fatality, the first step is an informal hearing in front of a hearing officer with the Illinois Secretary of State’s office. These hearings are available at select Driver Services facilities and are held on a walk-in basis, with no appointment necessary.
What to Know About Shoplifting in Illinois
The offense of shoplifting, or retail theft as it is also known, is often viewed by many as a minor crime, but it is taken seriously by retailers and law enforcement. If you are caught shoplifting in Illinois, you are facing some of the strictest penalties in the nation. The definition of shoplifting is broader than you may think, encompassing many forms of deceiving retail stores and their workers.
Types of Shoplifting and Penalties in Illinois
Shoplifting is not just hiding merchandise under your shirt or in your pocket and leaving the store without paying. There are many actions that could result in you facing misdemeanor or even felony charges.
Under Illinois law, the following actions constitute shoplifting or retail theft:
- Leaving a store with merchandise without paying for it.
- Concealing merchandise within other merchandise to hide it from the cashier and sneak it out of the store
Penalties for Street Racing and Drag Racing in Illinois
Drag racing, car racing, and other motorsports are popular spectator sports, attracting legions of fans to large venues and small tracks all around the state. However, some car owners feel tempted to recreate the speeds of race cars on Illinois streets. Participating in street racing, also known as drag racing, is a serious traffic violation and will result in more than just a simple speeding ticket. If your actions fall under the Illinois street racing statute, you could be facing more serious penalties, including the loss of your driver’s license, fines, and even jail time.
What Counts as Street Racing Under Illinois Law
The definitions of street racing in Illinois law generally cover any attempts to see if your car is faster than someone else’s. You can be charged with street racing if you:
- Race another car side by side and try to outdistance each other
What Are the Penalties for Stealing a Car in Illinois?
Given the greater monetary value of a typical vehicle, auto theft is considered a very serious crime in Illinois. However, the act of starting up someone else’s car and driving away is only one scenario that is related to the theft of motor vehicles under Illinois law. Since the theft of a motor vehicle must be proven to be an intentional act, it is essential that you work with an attorney who is experienced in motor vehicle theft cases and can build a strong defense for you.
Penalties and Stealing or Possessing a Stolen Vehicle
The act of stealing or possessing a stolen motor vehicle valued at more than $10,000 is classified as a Class B felony. Penalties can include three to seven years in prison, fines of up to $25,000, and restitution for the value of the vehicle. In less serious cases or for first-time offenders, community service or probation are possible. You also run the risk of having the offense on your permanent criminal record, which can impact your employment, your housing opportunities, your ability to be admitted to academic programs, and other negative consequences.
Slow Down to Avoid Aggravated Speeding Charges in Illinois
After crawling your way through traffic, the highway finally opens up with hardly another car in sight. Unfortunately for you, the first car you do see is a police car, and you were going well over the speed limit. What looked like an open highway just turned into an aggravated speeding charge. Given the severe consequences that aggravated speeding can bring in Illinois, it is best to seek out an experienced defense attorney.
Definitions and Consequences of Aggravated Speeding
Under Illinois law, if you are caught speeding 26 miles per hour or more over the posted speed limit, you can be charged with a Class B misdemeanor. Traveling more than 35 mph over the limit will bring Class A misdemeanor charges and even more serious consequences.
A Class B misdemeanor can result in fines of up to $1,500 and six months in jail. The Class A misdemeanor charge raises the punishment to $2,500 in fines and up to twelve months in jail. On top of that, your driver’s license could be suspended or revoked, and you will most likely be facing much higher auto insurance rates. If you hold a Commercial Driver’s License, that will also be suspended, putting your continued employment at risk.
Car Thieves Using New Technology in Illinois
As wireless technology becomes omnipresent in our cars and our homes, thieves are taking advantage to steal vehicles and sometimes much more. Law enforcement, homeowners, and car dealerships alike are trying to keep up with new ways of accessing cars in driveways, garages, and sales lots. Motor vehicle theft or even just possessing a stolen vehicle could result in felony charges. If you are facing auto theft charges, it is time to call an experienced defense attorney.
Illinois Car Thefts Being Aided by Key Fobs, Garage Door Openers
There are several different techniques being used by thieves to either gain access to a motor vehicle then start it using wireless technology.
Basic key fobs are being used to remotely start cars and then drive them straight off a dealership lot. Thieves are either breaking into dealerships to access the key fobs or dragging the safe that contains the keys close enough to the cars to gain entry and start the vehicles. Once the car is started, they can reprogram a different fob to pair with the vehicle.
Could Railroad Crossing Violations Cost Me My CDL?
The Chicago area is a primary hub of railroad activity for the United States, with six of the seven largest railroads in the country, plus other smaller regional railroads running over 500 freight trains through the area daily. Add to that more than 750 daily Metra, Amtrak, and South Shore trains carrying commuters and visitors on the system. All of this railroad activity means cars and trucks in the Chicago region must navigate a lot of railroad crossings on a daily basis.
If you are a commercial driver’s license (CDL) holder, every time you drive over one of these crossings, you risk a violation that can impact your ability to make a living. Even violations in your personal vehicle can count against your CDL privileges, so it is best to be safe and know your responsibilities.
Railroad Crossing Violations That Can Impact a CDL
Know What to Do If You Are Pulled Over for DUI
Memorial Day weekend traditionally signals the beginning of summer. With warmer weather coming, more people will enjoy time out with friends, attend barbecues, and enjoy a few drinks at a local bar or restaurant. At the same time, Illinois police will be out in numbers looking for drunk drivers. If you have been pulled over under suspicion of driving under the influence, there are certain things you should and should not do.
What Not to Do When Pulled Over on Suspicion of DUI
- Don’t become combative or defensive – Remain polite and civil to the officer and do not express any anger or frustration at being pulled over.
- Don’t volunteer any information – Beyond providing your license, vehicle registration, and other basic information, you do not need to volunteer any additional information about where you were or what you were doing. Remain polite, but avoid self-incrimination. You should not lie; just respectfully state that you won’t answer any questions until you have spoken with a lawyer.
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