In Illinois, DUI checkpoints are a standard enforcement tool used to prevent impaired driving and protect public safety. However, as recent events in Honolulu demonstrate, when the police conducting these operations arrest people without sufficient evidence of misconduct, it may constitute a violation of their constitutional rights. If you were…
In Illinois, law enforcement frequently conducts targeted operations to address DUI offenses, especially during holidays and other times when alcohol consumption increases. One such initiative is the Kane County State’s Attorney’s “No-Refusal Operation,” held annually on the night before Thanksgiving. While DUI checkpoints and similar operations are legal in Illinois,…
In Illinois, DUI incidents can have life-threatening consequences, as recently seen when an alleged drunk driver was pulled from his car moments before it was struck by an Amtrak train. This incident highlights that not all DUI arrests arise out of traffic stops, but can occur any time the police…
In most states, repeated DUI offenses carry increasingly severe penalties, as state laws are designed to deter repeat offenders and promote road safety. Recently, a Delaware man was arrested for his ninth DUI offense after failing a field sobriety test during a routine traffic stop and now faces substantial penalties.…
Illinois, like many states, legalized the recreational use of marijuana. With that change in law, though, comes confusion regarding what constitutes reasonable cause to stop a person for a marijuana-related driving offense. Recently, the Supreme Court of Illinois provided some clarity, ruling that the smell of marijuana, in and of…
While a DUI conviction can negatively impact anyone’s life, for people who drive for a living, the effects are often devastating. For example, in recent months, Massachusetts faced public scrutiny due to the sudden revocation of hundreds of commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs), impacting the livelihoods of many truck and bus…
While the Illinois police are generally on the lookout for intoxicated motorists throughout the year, they often increase their efforts around certain times of the year. For example, a recent report indicated they will conduct a coordinated DUI enforcement campaign throughout the state over Labor Day weekend. While such efforts…
It is generally understood that it is illegal to drive a vehicle while intoxicated. Many people would be surprised to learn, however, that they could be arrested for a DUI crime for sleeping in their car after consuming alcohol. This is true in many states, including Illinois, and as a…
In Illinois, as in most states, people can be charged with per se DUI crimes if their blood alcohol content (BAC) exceeds the legal limit, which is usually 0.08%. In many states, though, people can also be charged with DUI offenses regardless of their BAC if they operate a vehicle…
People typically understand that they can be charged with DUI crimes if they are caught driving a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. What may be surprising to some people, though, is that they can be charged with a DUI offense even absent direct evidence of their operation of…