Geneva Criminal Defense Law Blog

Concerned citizen call leads to DUI traffic stop

On behalf of Kopp Law posted in dui defense on Thursday, September 26, 2019.

A 25-year-old Illinois man was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol after a 911 call from a concerned motorist led to a traffic stop. The Leland resident has also been charged with carrying a concealed gun while intoxicated and cited for failing to maintain a single lane according to the Kane County Sheriff's Office.

The concerned motorist is said to have called 911 at approximately 11:15 p.m. on Sept. 7 to report a white pickup truck being driven erratically in the vicinity of Peck Road and Route 64 in St. Charles. The caller allegedly told emergency operators that the truck was weaving in and out of moving traffic and cutting other vehicles off. The caller then remained behind the pickup truck until deputies arrived at the scene. Deputies say that they conducted a traffic stop after they also observed the pickup truck being driven dangerously.

Traffic stop leads to felony DUI charges

On behalf of Kopp Law posted in dui defense on Thursday, September 12, 2019.

A 24-year-old Illinois woman is facing a raft of felony counts after being pulled over for speeding in Cook County during the early morning hours of Sept. 6. Police officers who stopped the woman's car on First Avenue in Riverside after allegedly observing it traveling at 67 mph in an area with a posted speed limit of 40 mph say she presented them with a fraudulently obtained driver's license and gave them a false name.

The officers claim that they asked the woman to exit her vehicle after detecting the odor of alcohol on her breath. They say that she was unsteady on her feet and failed a standardized field sobriety test. A breath test is said to have revealed her blood alcohol concentration to be .12%. The legal driving limit in Illinois is .08%. The woman's true identity was discovered when she was transported to a nearby police facility for booking and fingerprinting.

Police issuing tickets to school zone drivers

On behalf of Kopp Law posted in traffic tickets on Wednesday, August 28, 2019.

Law enforcement agencies and government personnel in Illinois are reminding people to drive safely in school zones and around school buses. They are also asking drivers and others to make reports to law enforcement when they see dangerous driving in these areas. Community members should be on the lookout for drivers who are using their cellphones or speeding, according to the deputy chief of the Algonquin Police Department.

A good report might include the specific times of day and locations of the dangerous driving so that police can know where to increase patrols. If a community member has a description of the offending vehicle or vehicles, that can be helpful too. The deputy police chief said that it can sometimes be hard for law enforcement to effectively respond to vague information. He added that callers can remain anonymous if they so choose.

Illinois police praise Speed Awareness Day efforts

On behalf of Kopp Law posted in traffic tickets on Thursday, August 15, 2019.

It's safe to say that most Illinois motorists hate to receive a speeding ticket. However, local and state law enforcement agencies frequently plan new ticketing campaigns that aim to further crack down on speeding and other traffic violations. On July 24, 2019, the Illinois Speed Awareness Day campaign was launched by the Illinois State Police with the stated goal of increasing awareness about the dangers of excessive speed and the importance of safe driving.

While the campaign included positive approaches to driver education, it also involved the distribution of a large number of speeding tickets and warnings. There were nine presentations in different areas of the state by law enforcement personnel discussing speed limits and the potential risks associated with exceeding them. During the 24-hour period, there were 876 speeding tickets given out by state police as well as 681 written warnings for speed-related issues. These were not the only traffic tickets issued during the focus day; state police also gave out 391 tickets and 848 written warnings for other issues.

Illinois drivers and the effects of speed traps

On behalf of Kopp Law posted in traffic tickets on Friday, August 2, 2019.

In Illinois and across the country, speed continues to be a leading cause of accidents. According to the Illinois State Police, it also plays a huge role in motor vehicle injuries. Approximately 40% of those involved in a speed-related accident will sustain some form of injury.

To reduce the number of accidents, police in many areas have been implementing events such as Speed Awareness Day. During these events, police come out in force, issuing more traffic tickets and making more arrests than they would on normal occasions. Officers may especially target certain areas such as interstate highways or streets with few if any stop signs, particularly if they know that drivers have a tendency to speed there.

Felony arrest may result in asset forfeiture

On behalf of Kopp Law on Friday, August 2, 2019.

The consequences of a conviction for drug offenses can be quite severe. While many states are decriminalizing the possession of marijuana in small amounts, the penalties for other drug crimes, such as trafficking or distribution, often include extended time behind bars and substantial fines. The severity of the penalties may depend on many things, such as the amount and kind of drug in question and whether state or federal authorities are prosecuting the case.

Perhaps one of the most controversial elements of drug enforcement is the practice of civil asset forfeiture. Asset forfeiture occurs when law enforcement authorities confiscate any possessions they believe you may have used or gained through illegal activities, including the drug trade. If authorities have seized items they claim are related to criminal activity, you have a limited time to take steps to reclaim them. The process is difficult, and you would be wise to seek legal assistance.

Driver taken into custody on his fifth DUI charge

On behalf of Kopp Law posted in dui defense on Wednesday, July 17, 2019.

Authorities in Illinois say that a 58-year-old Chicago resident was taken into custody on two charges of aggravated DUI. He was also charged with driving while his license was suspended. Police say that the man was observed driving on Route 53 in Crest Hill on June 27 while under the influence of alcohol.

There was no mention of why police believed that the man was under the influence when he was taken into custody. Authorities said that he had been taken into custody for DUI on four occasions prior to June 27. Two of the previous incidents took place in Will County while the others took place in Lake and Cook counties. The defendant is being held in Will County Jail, and he can secure his release by posting 10% of his $50,000 bail.

Fines for moving violations increasing in Illinois

On behalf of Kopp Law posted in traffic tickets on Friday, July 5, 2019.

The fines for certain types of traffic violations in the state of Illinois will be increasing as of July 1. On that date, the fine for not using a seat belt correctly will go up to $164 from $60. Furthermore, texting and driving will become a moving violation after a first offense instead of after a third offense. Those who are caught driving 20 miles or more over the speed limit will increase $44 to $164.

Those who have three or more moving violations on their record could be subject to a license suspension. State police are urging motorists to take their time now that kids are out of school. They are also encouraging drivers to give themselves extra time to get to their vacation destinations. In addition to not driving while distracted, it is critical to avoid operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

DUIs are down in some Illinois communities

On behalf of Kopp Law posted in dui defense on Wednesday, June 19, 2019.

DUI totals in the Illinois Valley have gone down in 11 of the past 13 years. Overall, the number of DUIs has dropped by roughly 50% over the past 15 years. In Bureau County, the number of people taken into custody for drunk or impaired driving dropped by one-third in 2019. This could be attributed to many factors such as an inability to afford the cost of a DUI in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. For some, it may be tough to justify the cost of drinking alcohol at a bar.

Therefore, residents of the area are more likely to have a meal and then head home if they do go out. Another reason why alcohol use may be down is because younger people are shying away from it. An attorney in La Salle said that social media is resulting in kids going to fewer parties where teenagers traditionally drink beer or other adult beverages. Furthermore, their focus has shifted to smoking marijuana or trying other controlled substances.

Why am I charged with an aggravated DUI?

On behalf of Kopp Law on Thursday, June 13, 2019.

When police pull you over on suspicion of drunk driving, they will attempt to establish probable cause for an arrest through observations, field sobriety tests and a portable breath test. If officers place you under arrest, you may end up at the police station or jail taking a breath test or at a hospital having your blood drawn in order to determine whether your blood alcohol concentration meets or exceeds the Illinois legal limit of 0.08.

In the absence of any other factors, you could face a misdemeanor DUI charge. However, a charge of driving under the influence can quickly turn into a felony depending on the circumstances that exist at the time of the arrest.