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Recent Blog Posts
What You Should Know About License Plate Reading Cameras
One of the newer weapons in the arsenal of Illinois law enforcement is the license plate reading camera, which police departments are using to identify the vehicles of people who may be subject to criminal charges.
In 2018, Illinois cities such as Rockford and Chicago have expanded their use of these mobile license plate reading cameras, and Illinois residents should be aware of how this technology may affect them.
How Mobile License Plate Reading Cameras Work
The Rockford license plate camera system is described as follows:
- Computer-controlled cameras are installed on the roof of several city police cars.
- The cameras automatically snap photos of vehicle license plates as the squad cars drive down the street, including the plates of parked cars, as well as cars driving in front of or passing by the police cars. The vehicles’ location, date, and time are attached to the images for future reference.
Making a False Police Report is a Crime
Law enforcement officers in Washington State recently jumped into action when they received a call from citizens who believed they were witnessing an abduction in an Olympia park. About 10 hours later, a statement from the Washington State Patrol—Washington’s version of the state police—confirmed that the abduction was not real and, in fact, was part of an elaborate “escape room-style kidnapping” with no actual harm intended. Local prosecutors are now deciding whether to file charges.
A Scary Situation
According to the Washington State Patrol (WSP), the law enforcement agency received a call at about 10:30 pm on Wednesday, August 22. The report indicated that a possible abduction had taken place at Heritage Park in the state capital of Olympia. Witnesses indicated that several men in white plastic suits had grabbed three victims—all of them children—and restrained them with zip-ties. The children were reportedly placed in the back of a red pick-up truck.
Why Do Chicago Police Struggle to Solve Shooting Cases?
The City of Chicago has been making headlines for all the wrong reasons again. While 2018 began with a hopeful stretch of months in which the rate of gun violence dropped across the region, things seem to have taken a turn for the worse. In a single weekend in early August, for example, 74 people were shot—the city’s worst weekend in over two years. What is worse is that by Wednesday of the following week, Chicago police had not made a single arrest in connection with the shootings. Unfortunately, this is not a new trend, as available data shows that the city’s police department only solves about one in 20 shootings—a tragic 5 percent success rate.
Telling Numbers
According to information obtained by the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Police Department (CPD) officially cleared about 17 percent of the homicides committed last year. “Cleared,” however, does not always mean “solved.” A case is reported as cleared if the department simply identifies a suspect, even if the person is never arrested or charged. The numbers are far worse for non-fatal shootings. The University of Chicago Crime Lab analyzed CPD records for 2016 and found a clearance rate of just 5 percent.
New Illinois Law Allows Children Access to Medical Cannabis at School
Few topics have been as hotly debated as medical marijuana. Once considered only a dangerous “gateway” drug, cannabis and hemp products are now gaining acceptance as legitimate medicines. Seizure conditions, glaucoma, Crohn’s disease, and even post-traumatic stress disorder have been successfully treated with cannabis products. Cannabidiol (CBD) oil is being sold legally across the country and used by thousands of individuals for everything from joint pain to anxiety. Now, school children in Illinois who benefit from the medicinal powers of cannabis will be able to consume cannabis-infused products on school premises.
Only Medicinal Marijuana in Non-Smoke Forms Will Be Permitted on School Grounds
Legislation signed by Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner will now allow school children who use cannabis to treat symptoms from a medical condition to consume cannabis on school grounds. Parents who register with the Department of Public Health and have children who qualify for medical marijuana will be permitted to administer cannabis products to those children on school buses and on school property. To be clear, children will not be allowed to actually smoke marijuana in schools. Only cannabis-infused products such as food, sublingual oils, or topical patches will be permitted.
School Zone Speeding Tickets and Penalties
As the fall semester starts, drivers need to remember to dial back their speeds in school zones when children are present.
Here are the key things Illinois drivers need to know about school zone speed limits and the penalties for violating them:
When Is the School Zone Speed Limit in Effect?
The 20 mph school zone speed limit is only in effect when school is in session and children are physically present on or near the street, generally between the hours of 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. The school zone speed limit is 20 mph regardless of the speed limit for the rest of that road.
You are not required to reduce your speed when the children are all inside the school, and you are not required to reduce your speed on weekends and holidays when school is not in session.
Be forewarned: Illinois law allows the use of electronic speed-detection devices around school zones for the purpose of speed enforcement and ticketing (625 ILCS 5/11-605).
New Law Increases Consequences for Texting While Driving in Illinois
A new law that was recently enacted in Illinois will increase the consequences that drivers face when they choose to text while driving. House Bill 4846, which was backed by State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin), makes a first-time offense of using an electronic device while driving a moving violation , rather than just a warning. The bill was supported by Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner, the Illinois Secretary of State, and the Illinois State Police.
First-Time Offenses Are No Longer Just Warnings
Under the new law, which will take effect in July 2019, drivers only need to be caught using an electronic device once for the offense to be considered a moving violation. The Illinois Vehicle Code currently states that drivers must be caught using an electronic device while driving at least twice before any disciplinary action is taken against them. When the new law goes into effect, not only will first-offense violations be added to one’s driving record, but violators will also face a license suspension if they are caught three times within a 12-month period. Drivers will also face fines as follows for violations:
What Happens if I Get an Out-of-State Speeding or DUI Ticket?
If you live in Illinois, you probably drive in other states on a regular basis. So it is smart to know what can happen to your Illinois driver’s license if you are caught speeding or driving under the influence (DUI) in another state.
Many people are not aware that there are two systems that allow states to share information about drivers: the National Driver Register and the Driver License Compact.
The National Driver Register
Federal law requires all states to report driver’s license suspensions and revocations to a central database called the National Driver Register (NDR). The purpose of this database is to prevent a reckless driver whose license is revoked in one state from getting a new license in another state.
For example, suppose your Illinois driver’s license was revoked for DUI, and you later move to Texas and apply for a driver’s license. Before issuing you a license, the Texas driver’s license bureau will run your information through the NDR. Until you have cleared the Illinois revocation, your name will come up in the NDR as ”not eligible,” and Texas will not issue you a driver’s license.
New Illinois Firearms Laws Enacted in 2018
One of 2018’s hottest political debates has centered around the question, “How do we reduce gun crimes and shooting deaths in the U.S.?” The topic initially rose to the top of legislative agendas in response to the February 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school in Parkland, Florida, which took the lives of 17 students and teachers.
This was followed by a report that in the first 21 weeks of 2018, there were 23 school shootings across the U.S. where at least one person was hurt or killed. Although none of those shootings happened in Illinois, state legislators nonetheless took up the cause quickly.
In July 2018, Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner signed two new gun laws that will go into effect in January 2019.
Understanding Criminal Record Expungement in Illinois
Sometimes people make mistakes, but that does not mean that they do not deserve second chances. In Illinois, there are certain records that you can have expunged, or erased, as if the event never happened. The process of destroying your criminal records can help keep your past in the past and prevent friends, family, or even future employers from seeing your criminal record. However, like most things, there are limitations to what you can have expunged. Understanding expungement in Illinois can help you move on with your life and put the past behind you.
What Qualifies for Expungement?
Under the Illinois Criminal Identification Act, certain types of arrests and some cases resulting in probation or court supervision can be expunged from an individual’s criminal record. Depending on the crime and the disposition, you may qualify to have your records sealed if you do not qualify to have your records expunged. Other civil issues such as divorce, minor traffic violations, and orders of protection are not covered under the Act and cannot be expunged.
An Unlawful Search May Result in Dismissed Charges
One of the founding principles of our country is that of personal freedom. Citizens have the right to privacy in their home, work, and while traveling. The Fourth Amendment to the U.S Constitution protects citizens from unreasonable government interference in their lives. This includes unsubstantiated searches. To search a person’s home, police must obtain a search warrant from a judge. While police are not always required to obtain a search warrant to search a person’s vehicle, there are still rules regarding when a vehicle search is appropriate and when it is not. An officer who searches a residence or vehicle without the proper criteria being met is conducting an unlawful search. Evidence obtained from an illegitimate search is often not admissible in a court of law.
What Are My Rights to Privacy in My Home?
The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution reads, “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause…” This amendment limits the authority of police and government officials in order to protect citizens’ privacy and prevent baseless searches. If police wish to search your home for evidence of a crime, they must obtain written permission in the form of a search warrant. Police must convince a judge that there is reason to believe that evidence of a crime exists in a home in order to receive a search warrant.
