The holiday season is typically a time for generosity and family get-togethers. Ironically, domestic violence increases across the nation during major holidays including Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. In Illinois, one in three women and one in four men have experienced domestic abuse including shoving and slapping. A domestic violence conviction comes with serious legal consequences.
Domestic Violence
Domestic violence is a concerning trend that involves intimidation, threats, physical injury, sexual assault, emotional abuse, and even death. If you are convicted, it can result in up to a year in jail. If there is a previous conviction for domestic…
Continue Reading Domestic Violence Spikes During the Holidays

About 600 child passengers are killed in a car accident every year, and approximately one-fourth of them die in a crash involving a drunk driver. We realize that for most parents the priority is to keep their children safe and prevent a tragedy. But if you are arrested for a DUI with a child in tow, there is a good chance child protective services will get involved, and you would benefit from having an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side.
Parental Abuse of Authority
Parents have authority over their children, but the reality is that children often have little…
Continue Reading What You Should Know About Being Charged with DUI with Children in the Car

Typically, the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prevents police officers from conducting traffic stops without justification. Police need “reasonable suspicion” of criminal activity to pull a driver over. However, sobriety checkpoints are an exception to this rule.
At sobriety checkpoints, police officers can stop vehicles without any suspicion that the driver has committed a crime. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1990 that sobriety checkpoints are constitutional as long as they are conducted in a reasonable manner. If you or a loved one are facing charges for driving under the influence because of a sobriety checkpoint, contact a DUI…
Continue Reading DUI Charges Resulting from Sobriety Checkpoints

If you own a commercial driver’s license, you probably rely on your license to make a living. You may be a truck driver, bus driver, delivery driver, or another type of commercial driver. Regardless of what you do for a living, if you are arrested and convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) in Illinois, you could face the loss of your commercial driver’s license (CDL). It is essential that you take steps to protect your future. Contact a DUI defense lawyer with experience representing CDL holders and start building your defense right away. 
Defense Strategies for CDL Holders…
Continue Reading How Can I Avoid Losing My CDL After an Illinois DUI?

If your license has been revoked after a conviction for driving under the influence (DUI) in Illinois, it can be a long and difficult process to get it back. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to increase your chances of getting your license reinstated. In this blog post, we will outline the steps you need to take to get your license back after a revocation in Illinois.
Set Up a Driver’s License Reinstatement Hearing
The first step in regaining your legal driving rights is to file a petition for driver’s license reinstatement with the Secretary of State’s office.
Continue Reading Steps to Get Your License Back After a Revocation in Illinois

The state of Illinois, like most of the country, legally defines alcohol intoxication as having a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or greater.  If you are caught driving with a BAC of 0.08 percent or higher, you can be arrested and charged with driving under the influence (DUI). However, this does not mean that you will automatically be convicted if your BAC is over 0.08. You may still have defenses available to you that could result in acquittal or even dismissal.
Breath Alcohol Testing Can Be Flawed
If the police pull you over and they smell alcohol…
Continue Reading Can I Get Out of a DUI Even If I Failed a Breath Test?

Criminal penalties for drug distribution or selling drugs are usually much more severe than mere possession. If you or a loved one were accused of drug dealing, drug manufacturing, drug distribution, or possession with intent to deliver, secure legal counsel immediately. An experienced criminal defense lawyer can help you understand what you are up against and begin building a strong defense against the charges.
Accusations of Selling Drugs
In order to be convicted of selling drugs, the prosecution must prove that you:

• Intended to sell or distribute the drug, and
• Actually sold or distributed the drug

The prosecutor does not…
Continue Reading What Factors Can Elevate a Drug Possession Charge to Drug Distribution?

In Illinois, orders of protection are issued to individuals who feel that their safety is threatened by another person. Protective orders, called restraining orders in other states, are commonly issued in domestic violence cases. The purpose of a protective order is to prevent an abusive or harassing individual from causing the alleged victim further harm. If someone was issued a protective order against you, you may be unsure of how to handle the situation. It can be frustrating and overwhelming. The actions you do and do not take during the protection period can dramatically impact your future, so it is…
Continue Reading What to Do If Someone Gets an Order of Protection Against You

A conviction for driving under the influence (DUI), leaving the scene of a serious accident, drag racing, or a felony offense involving a motor vehicle can lead to a driver’s license revocation. Once a person’s license is revoked, he or she is prohibited from driving. The only way to get a driver’s license back after it is revoked is through a Secretary of State license reinstatement hearing. 
If you lost your license, you may have many questions about how to get it back. Read on to learn more about driver’s license reinstatement in Illinois.
Can I Regain Driving Privileges…
Continue Reading Frequently Asked Questions About Driver's License Reinstatement in Illinois

In the state of Illinois, speeding tickets are not uncommon. Most people have been pulled over for driving above the speed limit at least once in their lives. In most cases, a speeding driver receives either a warning or a traffic ticket payable by a moderate fine. He or she may also have to contend with higher insurance rates. If the driver has received multiple citations in the past, his or her driver’s license may be suspended.
Excessive speeding can lead to much more than higher insurance rates and expensive traffic tickets. In certain circumstances, speeding or dangerous driving can…
Continue Reading When Can Speeding Lead to Criminal Charges in Illinois?