You know it is illegal to pass a moving vehicle in a no-passing zone. But did you know that you can now pass a bicyclist in a no-passing zone under a new state traffic law that went into effect on January 1, 2018? When Can a Motorist Pass a Bicyclist? Drivers can now pass to […]
Illinois Motorists Can Now Legally Pass Bicycles in a No-Passing Zone Read More »
Before television and the internet, if a person was accused of a crime, only those close to the defendant or prosecutors were aware of the allegation, in most cases. Today, we have access to virtually the entire wealth of human knowledge at the click of a button. When someone is accused of a crime, especially
How the Court of Public Opinion Can Influence Criminal Proceedings Read More »
The prevalence of electronic communication in modern life has brought people many benefits, but it has led to consequences as well. One negative effect of the increased ease of communication is the ability for someone to harass or intimidate someone else using a variety of methods. These types of actions are criminal offenses, and in
New Illinois Online Hate Crime Law for 2018 Read More »
In Illinois, law enforcement officials and prosecutors have the right to upgrade charges against a defendant if their alleged crime rises to or exceeds certain thresholds defined in the state’s criminal code. One common example of charges which may be upgraded occurs when an offense crosses the line between misdemeanor shoplifting and felony theft. Smart
Raising the Threshold on Felony Theft in Illinois Read More »
When a person is stopped by a police officer on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol , the officer may ask him or her to take a breath, blood, or urine test. Often, a field sobriety test and breath test are used during traffic stops to determine whether the driver’s blood alcohol content
Should I Refuse a Breathalyzer Test? Read More »
Evidence is a very important variable when it comes to nearly any investigation and criminal defense strategy. Sometimes a lack of evidence is what helps a defendant win their case, while in other situations, evidence is exactly what you need to protect your freedom. It is interesting to see the lengths to which some will
Recovering Evidence in a Criminal Defense Case Read More »
Having the option of being tried in court before a jury of one’s peers is a right our country’s justice system guarantees. However, in most cases involving juvenile crime, the opportunity to seek a jury trial is not offered in Illinois. This policy was recently upheld by the state’s Supreme Court. First Time Offenders In
Juvenile Defendants and Jury Trials Read More »
Shoplifting can be detrimental to business owners, as billions of dollars’ worth of merchandise are stolen from retail stores every year. Often, the holiday season is the time of year when shoplifting is especially problematic. In a season that lasts just over a month, shoplifters cost retail stores approximately $6 billion. The toll is especially
Holiday Season Causes Uptick in Shoplifting Read More »
Traffic violations Traffic violations are a common reason for getting pulled over by the police. In fact, most drivers have been pulled over at least once in their lives. It can be easy for us as drivers to be comfortable bending the rules a bit and many drivers admit to practicing dangerous behaviors on the
What Are The Most Common Traffic Violations Read More »
While city and state officials across the country work to create laws aimed at helping undocumented immigrants remain in the United States, the State of Illinois passed legislation aimed at easing fears of deportation for illegal immigrants arrested locally. Although they may still need to appear in court for traffic violations or other minor offenses
The Illinois TRUST Act Protects Immigrants Who Interact With Police Read More »
Young people often make poor decisions, and this can result in them running afoul of law enforcement. In a worst-case scenario, a juvenile offender must serve time one of Illinois’ five juvenile detention facilities, and this experience is likely to have a major impact on the rest of their lives. Lately, however, state officials have
Illinois Juvenile Correctional Facilities Undergoing Reforms Read More »
The Chicago Police Department has been under intense scrutiny for decades. During the 1968 Democratic National Convention Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley and the Chicago Police Department were accused of treating Vietnam war protesters inhumanely and using excessive force to control them. Time Magazine said of the several-day event, “With billy clubs, tear gas and
Chicago Police Receive Body Cameras Read More »
