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Recent Blog Posts
Switching Labels at the Grocery Store - Is It Theft?
With the rise of self-checkouts in grocery stores, many individuals may engage in switching labels between items in order to pay less. It may seem harmless, but switching labels at a grocery store can be considered theft in Illinois. It is vital to reach out to a knowledgeable Illinois retail theft defense lawyer if you have been charged with retail theft after switching labels to understand your rights and options.
What to Know About Price Switching
Price switching is the common term for when someone switches the scannable label of a cheaper grocery store item onto a more highly-priced grocery store item. These items are typically taken through the self-checkout of grocery stores or retail stores, with automated computer scanners much less likely to catch a discrepancy between the items being scanned and the ones that actually end up in the bag.
How Do I Get My License Back in Illinois After a DUI?
If you are faced with DUI charges, you may be wondering what might happen to your Illinois driver’s license. There are many potential outcomes of a DUI conviction, including the suspension or revocation of your driver’s license in addition to fines and other penalties. An experienced Illinois license reinstatement lawyer can help you understand how to get your license back if you have lost it after a DUI conviction.
License Suspension Versus Revocation
Losing your driving privileges in Illinois after a DUI occurs in two ways – license suspension or revocation. With a license suspension, there is a time limit for how long your license is suspended, and you may need to complete certain rehabilitation programs or meet requirements like using a breath monitoring device to drive your vehicle before your suspension period is over.
When Is a DUI a Felony in Illinois?
Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, typically shortened to DUI, is a crime in Illinois. However, there are different levels to DUI charges, and this charge may be a misdemeanor or a felony depending on a few different circumstances. It is important to understand the difference in DUI charges, as these charges carry varying penalties. An experienced Illinois DUI defense attorney can answer your questions if you face a DUI charge.
Understanding Illinois DUI Charges
In Illinois, the majority of DUI charges are misdemeanors. First-time DUI offenses and second-time DUI offenses are both Class A misdemeanors, though a second-time DUI offense is typically penalized more harshly.
A first-time DUI becomes a felony DUI when at least one of the following occurs alongside the DUI:
If I Borrow a Car Without Asking, Is It Stealing?
Vehicle theft is taken seriously in Illinois, and there are harsh penalties for those who steal cars or commit crimes related to vehicle theft, such as buying or selling a stolen vehicle. While you may think that borrowing a car is no big deal if you have plans to return it, you could potentially be arrested for vehicle theft should the person you borrowed the car from report your use of the vehicle to the police.
A knowledgeable Illinois car theft defense lawyer is essential to protecting your rights and understanding your options if you have been charged with vehicle theft.
Defining Vehicle Theft in Illinois
In Illinois, vehicle theft is included in the state’s General Theft laws. Under these laws, the following actions can constitute vehicle theft:
Can I Go to Jail if My Teen Is Drinking at Home?
Underage drinking is a serious topic, and Illinois has several laws in place, such as the Zero Tolerance Law, to prevent minors from obtaining and consuming alcohol. If your teen is found to be drinking at home, you may be faced with criminal charges depending on the circumstances of the alcoholic consumption. An experienced Illinois criminal defense lawyer can answer further questions about your situation.
Can My Teen Drink at Home?
In Illinois, consumption of alcohol by individuals who are under 21 years of age is illegal, with the following exceptions:
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The minor is within his or her parent’s private residence, and the minor is directly supervised by his or her parent or legal guardian
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The minor is participating in a religious ceremony
What Happens if You Get an Illinois Traffic Violation Ticket?
While some people may not think of traffic violations as too serious, dealing with even one traffic violation on your record can result in future difficulties. Multiple traffic violations on your record can be even more serious, and some types of traffic violations come with the risk of high fines and jail time.
If you have been charged with violating certain traffic laws, you will need an experienced Illinois traffic violations defense lawyer advocating for your rights.
Common Illinois Traffic Violations
There are many different varieties of traffic violations in Illinois, and these violations range in severity. Some of the most common Illinois traffic violations include:
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Speeding, including aggravated speeding
Can I Appeal My Illinois Criminal Conviction?
Dealing with an Illinois criminal conviction is stressful, and when a conviction lands on your record, it can greatly affect your future. In some cases, you may be able to appeal your criminal conviction, though this will need to be done quickly to ensure the appeal process starts as soon as a conviction is handed down. You will need a skilled Illinois criminal defense attorney at your side to advocate for your rights throughout this process.
When Can I Appeal an Illinois Criminal Conviction?
Unless explicitly stated during the sentencing process, you have the right to fight your criminal conviction and resulting sentence with an appeal. There are many reasons why an appeal might be filed, and it is up to your attorney to point out these reasons as grounds for an appeal. Common reasons why an appeal might be requested include:
Understanding Felony Charges in Illinois
Felony charges are among the most serious criminal convictions you can face in Illinois, and these charges vary depending on the severity of the crime committed. Illinois provides different classifications for different types of felonies, and it is important to be aware of felony charges and their associated penalties if you find yourself facing a criminal conviction.
Of course, a solid defense strategy and the help of an experienced Illinois criminal defense lawyer are key to minimizing any felony charges against you.
Felony Classifications in Illinois
In Illinois, the Unified Code of Corrections outlines the different classifications of felonies in the state and their correlating punishments. There are five felony classifications in Illinois, in addition to the felony of first-degree murder, which is a separate classification.
Will My Prescription Drugs Cause a DUI?
Many people around Illinois may take prescription drugs to help with certain health conditions and to ensure they can go about their days with minimal pain and symptoms. However, when you need to take your prescription drug and drive, you might be facing charges for driving under the influence if your drugs affect the way you operate your vehicle.
If you find yourself facing a charge for a prescription drug-related DUI, you will need to contact an Illinois DUI drug defense lawyer to learn about your legal options.
Understanding Illinois DUI Law
Illinois has fairly straightforward laws when it comes to driving under the influence. According to the Illinois Vehicle Code, driving under the influence is defined as when a person drives while under the influence of alcohol, chemical substances such as a prescription drug, or controlled substances, such as illegal drugs. All of these items can impair how you operate your vehicle and impact reaction times, awareness, and cognitive functions.
Is Breaking and Entering the Same as Burglary in Illinois?
In Illinois, breaking and entering is not a term mentioned in the law. Instead, Illinois classifies what people generally think of as breaking and entering, which is entering property unlawfully with the intent to commit a felony or a theft, as burglary.
If there is no intent to commit a crime once unlawfully inside a property, this action may instead be considered trespass or criminal trespass. Intent to commit a crime must be proven in these kinds of cases for a burglary conviction to be handed down. It is important to have an experienced Illinois criminal defense lawyer on your side if you find yourself facing burglary charges after unlawfully entering a home, vehicle, boat, or other property.
What Is Burglary in Illinois?
When facing burglary charges in Illinois, it is important to understand what the state considers burglary. Despite many people thinking you can only be charged with burglary if you steal something, this is not generally the case in Illinois.
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