Assault and battery are two separate crimes in Illinois, although they are often charged together. In short, battery is making physical contact with someone in a way that causes harm to them or is insulting and designed to provoke them. Assault is causing someone to believe that you are about to batter them. 

Either can be charged as a felony or as a misdemeanor depending on the level of harm caused or the presence of aggravating factors, such as the use of a firearm. If you have been charged with any form of battery or assault, you will need a skilled criminal defense lawyer to protect your rights and fight to minimize any consequences. 

Understanding the Difference Between Assault and Battery

Often, a person is charged with both assault and battery. However, the two legal terms mean different things and can be charged separately as well. If you have been charged with one or the other - or both - you may be having trouble understanding what each means. Here are some reasons each may or may not be charged: 

Getting pulled over by Illinois state or local police can be a scary and unpleasant experience, and this is especially true if an officer suspects you of driving under the influence. It can be difficult in the heat of the moment to remember or understand your rights, and you may reasonably wonder: Can I refuse a breathalyzer or sobriety test if I’ve been pulled over? 

What is Implied Consent? 

Different states have different laws addressing requirements and consequences for people suspected of driving under the influence. Illinois is called an “implied consent” state, which means that when you got your driver’s license, you agreed you would consent to give an officer a blood or breath sample to assess your blood alcohol content during a lawful request. 

However, implied consent is not the same thing as actual consent. To begin with, the implied consent law only applies after you have been arrested on suspicion of a DUI. You do not face any consequences for refusing a breathalyzer test prior to an arrest, even if a police officer says otherwise. 

Being able to drive is one of the most important privileges we use every day. Getting to work, taking kids to school, and buying groceries all rely on the use of a car. Losing the ability to drive because of a driver’s license suspension or revocation can be annoying at best, and financially crippling at worst. 

Although a driver’s license suspension and a revocation may seem similar, they are two different penalties and result in different consequences. This article looks at the difference between a suspension and a revocation, but your attorney is the best source for answers to your questions. 

Driver’s License Revocations

A driver’s license revocation is generally given to someone who commits a serious traffic violation. These include, but are not limited to: 

People driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol cause a disproportionate percentage of road accidents every year. Although many of these car crashes involve only the intoxicated driver and their vehicle, sometimes other drivers and passengers are injured or killed as well. When an intoxicated driver hurts or kills another person, the charges for driving under the influence are increased and a conviction can result in severe consequences that could impact the driver for the rest of his or her life. 

This article examines the likely consequences of various types of harm caused by an intoxicated driver in Illinois. If you were involved in a DUI accident, seek legal representation immediately. 

DUI Accidents Resulting in Serious Injuries, Disfigurement, or Disability 

DUI accidents that result in serious bodily injury, permanent disfigurement, or permanent disability can result in an aggravated felony DUI charge. Aggravated felony DUIs charges range from a Class 4 felony to a Class X felony, depending on the circumstances. Class 4 felonies, the least serious type of felony charge, still carry penalties of one to four years in prison, a driver’s license revocation of at least two years, and up to $25,000 in fines. Class X felonies, the most serious type of felony charge, allow for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison and as much as $25,000 in fines. 

Sex crime convictions are among the most serious and long-lasting convictions in Illinois criminal law. Convictions for some sex crimes carry the life-long labels of “felon” or “sex offender.”Registered sex offenders have strict limitations on where they can live and work and other behavioral restrictions based on their conviction. If you have been accused of a sex crime, it is crucial to get legal representation immediately and understand what happens if you are convicted. 

Will I Have to Register as a Sex Offender? 

Illinois requires persons convicted of many sex-related crimes to register as sex offenders. Some examples of crimes that require sex offender registration include, but are not limited to: 

• Possession and/or distribution of child pornography

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