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Recent Blog Posts
Changes to DUI Law Under Illinois Medical Cannabis Act
In August 2013, Illinois followed Colorado and Washington to become the twentieth state to legalize the medical use of cannabis under its Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act. Under this Act, medical marijuana is legal for registered users to treat symptoms of a statute-defined debilitating medical condition. Authorization of use includes the following qualifications:
- User must be 18 years of age or older;
- User must have written certification from an Illinois-licensed physician; and
- User must be registered with the Department of Public Health.
With the passing of this Act, which went into effect January 1, 2014, there have been changes to DUI law. Prior to the Act, it was against the law for a person driving a motor vehicle to be under the influence of cannabis or have any trace of cannabis in the blood, breath or urine.
Illinois First-Time DUI Offenders: Ignition Interlock Eligibility
The Illinois Secretary of State reports that 86 percent of drivers arrested for DUI in 2012 were first time offenders. Even for a first offense, a DUI has the potential of carrying serious penalties.
Depending on the facts surrounding the arrest, it can include:
- Court fines and fees;
- Suspension of driving privileges;
- Community service; and
- Imprisonment.
Illinois Minors Face Stiff Penalties under Zero Tolerance Law
Illinois maintains a Zero Tolerance Law when it comes to underage drinking and driving. An underage driver whose blood alcohol content (BAC) is .08 or greater results in an immediate six-month driver’s license suspension. A refusal to submit to a chemical test on suspicion of a DUI is grounds for a 12-month suspension.
The state’s Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) statistics reveal that more than 400,000 people ages 12-20 reported alcohol use in 2011. However, due to the Zero Tolerance Law, a minor can have his or her driving privileges suspended even when not intoxicated at the legal limit of .08.
Illinois Cracks Down on Drunk Driving
An Illinois initiative to step up efforts to curtail drunk and drug-impaired driving began in August with a big push over Labor Day weekend. The Illinois State Police, Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), and multiple municipal county and police departments statewide, including the West Chicago Police Department, joined together for its zero tolerance campaign.
In a press release issued by IDOT, motor vehicle fatalities have decreased when compared to the same timeframe last year, but they do not want to be complacent about safety regarding both impaired driving and getting drivers to buckle up. One-third of fatal crashes involve an impaired driver and the "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign is designed to increase awareness and compliance of state laws.
Illinois DUI Laws Extend beyond Drunk Driving
When a person is charged with driving under the influence (DUI), some may assume the individual was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. However, the scope of DUI expands to other types of offenses, such as high driving.
According to the 2014 Illinois Fact Book, published by Secretary of State Jessie White, driving under the influence involves operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, medically prescribed drugs such as cannabis, or any other intoxicating substances like methamphetamine. Under Illinois state laws, a person is considered to be driving under the influence of alcohol if his or her blood-alcohol level is .08 or higher.
Naperville Proposes Regulations to Help Combat Irresponsible Drinking
Naperville City Councilmen recently voted to forbid neighborhood bars from offering major beer discounts as a response to an alleged drunk driving crash and a downtown street fight video gone viral. These regulations were proposed in an effort to combat irresponsible drinking that can result in serious drunk driving accidents and anger problems among patrons. According to the Chicago Tribune, the new regulations will also require bar security guards to undergo additional training to work with intoxicated patrons and to help prevent similar issues in the future.
Illinois Students Face the Rise and Fall of Underage Drinking
Underage drinking affects thousands of Illinois college students and their families every year. With the unofficial end of summer and the beginning of the fall semester underway, students face the temptations of drinking underage without always being fully aware of the consequences of those actions.
Students who choose to drink and drive may face the legal ramifications of a DUI charge, which can affect both their criminal record and driving eligibility status. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism shares dangerous statistics surrounding underage drinking among college campuses:
National Day of Johns Arrests Results: Over 500 Arrested
When law enforcement participates in a sting operation, it means they are intentionally working a deceptive operation designed to catch criminals. One of the most common types of sting operations are those that law enforcement set up in order to arrest people who are engaging in the crime of solicitation. Targets of these sting operations are usually the people who are seeking to purchase the services of a prostitute (referred to as ‘johns’) or the people who are involved in trafficking prostitutes (referred to as ‘pimps’).
Recently, Chicago Police, along with 28 other law enforcement agencies around the country, participated in the "National Day of Johns Arrests." The program resulted in the arrests of 500 johns and 14 pimps.
The Relationship between Gambling and Criminal Behaviors
The notion of gambling and crime going hand in hand is age old, and although many convey gambling with images of mobsters from the 1920’s or illegal moonshine distilleries, this is not the reality of the matter in today’s world.
Today, gambling is an addiction on an epidemic scale. It is no different than any other addiction, and the need to satisfy a craving can make a person resort to drastic measures when desperate. In many cases, this desperation can result in serious criminal charges carrying jail sentences and steep fines.
Studies have shown that around half of all gamblers also commit crimes of varying degrees.
Drug Crimes and Convictions in Illinois
Use of illegal drugs is one of the largest social, economic, and political issues in contemporary America. Between the legalization of marijuana in some states, the widespread abuse of opiates (including prescription narcotics) and opiate overdoses, and the ease of accessibility to these substances, illegal drugs can cause a host of problems. When these issues extend to legal problems and drug charges, it is critical to contact an Illinois criminal defense attorney.
There are varying degrees of drug charges in the State of Illinois, and many carry very different, and often stiff penalties in their wake. Consider the following list of common street narcotics and the results if convicted when found in one's possession:
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