Many people would agree that you should stop and address the situation if you are in a traffic accident. The majority of crashes can result in some sort of damage, whether it is property damage or bodily injury. If you get into any type of vehicle accident, it is always a good idea to stop and call the police, especially if the other person does not want to cooperate with you or provide insurance information. In most cases, you are legally required to stop and report the situation to the police, and fleeing the scene of the accident is illegal. Failure to stop after an accident can result in you being charged with a misdemeanor or felony crime, depending on the situation.

Fleeing from a Property Damage-Only Accident

Even if you are involved in a car accident that does not involve injury to another person, you are still required to stop. By law, you are required to provide the other driver with your name, address, vehicle registration number, and insurance information. You do not have to remain in the exact spot where you collided with the other driver, especially if you are blocking traffic. You are able to move your vehicle as long as it is safe to do so, but you still must exchange information with the other driver.

The state of Illinois has some of the strictest DUI laws in the country. Even for a first offense of driving while under the influence, you can lose your driving privileges. In fact, through a statutory summary suspension, your driving privileges can be taken away without ever even being convicted of a DUI if you fail or refuse to take a chemical blood alcohol test. If your driving privileges are suspended because of a DUI, you do have options for driving relief during your suspension period. Depending on your circumstances, you can get a monitoring device driving permit (MDDP) or a restricted driving permit (RDP), both of which require the installation and use of a breath alcohol ignition interlock device (BAIID). If you lose your driving privileges, here are a few things you should know about BAIIDs:

1. A BAIID Uses Your Breath to Determine if You Are Sober

   ...

In the grand scheme of things, retail theft is a relatively minor crime--but it is still a crime. In many cases, retail theft is a misdemeanor charge in Illinois, but it can elevate to a felony charge in certain situations. What many people do not know is that retail theft is not just simply taking something from a store without paying for it. You can be charged with retail theft for a variety of different actions, which also determine the type of charge and the applicable penalties if you are convicted. 

General Retail Theft

When most people think of retail theft, they probably think of the type of theft that is defined under the Illinois Criminal Code. According to Illinois law, general retail theft occurs when a person takes possession of, carries away, transfers, or aids in the transferring or carrying away of merchandise without paying for the products and with the intention of depriving the store of its use or benefit. Retail theft is a Class A misdemeanor, as long as the value of the allegedly stolen merchandise does not exceed $300. If the merchandise is valued at more than $300, then the charge is elevated to a Class 3 felony. A repeat offense of retail theft is also an elevated charge and is classified as a Class 4 felony.

Being pulled over by the police for any reason can be a nerve-wracking experience. Something about those flashing red and blue lights in the rearview mirror can instill fear and anxiety in even the most innocent people. If an officer has reasonable suspicion that you are driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, he or she will pull you over to further investigate. During the traffic stop, the officer will be looking for any sign that you are impaired beyond the point of safe driving. Before an arrest can be made, there must be probable cause. One of the ways an officer obtains probable cause is by performing field sobriety tests, such as asking you to walk in a straight line or stand on one foot. However, if an officer asks you to complete a field sobriety test, do you have the right to refuse in Illinois?

Field Sobriety Testing

The short answer is yes, you can refuse a field sobriety test. In Illinois, you are not legally required to submit to field sobriety testing if you are pulled over on suspicion of DUI. Even though you have the right to refuse a field sobriety test, it is important to understand that there might be certain consequences if you do not submit to testing. The purpose of using these kinds of tests is to establish probable cause so the officer has reason to arrest you. If you refuse to take a test, you should understand that the officer will then be even more determined to find probable cause to arrest you. Many officers will perform an arrest using your refusal to submit to field sobriety testing as probable cause for their suspicion.

In all 50 states, it is illegal to drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. When you are intoxicated, your body does not react to instances in the same way as it would when you are sober. Your response time is slower, your reflexes are diminished, and your cognitive abilities are impaired. This is what makes accidents involving an intoxicated driver so deadly. There were 27,046 people arrested for DUI in Illinois in 2017, according to the Secretary of State’s office. Being convicted of a DUI can result in serious penalties, including driver’s license revocation, fines, and even jail time in some circumstances.

Before the Stop

Before you are pulled over, a police officer must have probable cause to conduct a traffic stop. In other words, the officer cannot just randomly choose a car to pull over; there has to be a legitimate reason for the stop. Common factors that lead officers to pull over vehicles on suspicion of DUI include erratic driving, lane swerving, or speeding.