It is not uncommon for DUI arrests to increase during the holiday season, in part due to an increased enforcement effort by law enforcement agencies to ensure road safety. For example, the Illinois State Police and Department of Transportation recently announced a holiday-related campaign that aims to reduce drunk driving…
Individuals convicted of DUI offenses encounter a range of civil and criminal consequences. While the penalties imposed vary by state, they often include the mandatory installation of ignition interlock devices on their vehicles for repeat offenders. Recently, advocates and legislators have indicated that they intend to introduce bills that would…
It is generally understood that DUI arrests increase around the holiday season. In an effort to crack down on an increase in drunk driving, Arizona enacted a holiday DUI enforcement plan. In Arizona, as in Illinois, the police can only arrest people for DUI crimes in certain situations, however, and…
In the United States, DUI defendants have multiple rights, including the right to an attorney. When the right arises is not always clear, however, as demonstrated in a recent Kansas case in which the defendant argued his request was unjustly denied. While the Kansas ruling does not have implications in…
It is common knowledge that people involved in collisions while they are driving under the influence can be charged with DUI crimes. It is less clear in some cases, however, what constitutes a crash and, therefore, grounds for arresting a person for suspicion of DUI. A recent Florida case in…
In Illinois and most other states, people can be arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol, no matter how short of a journey they take. In some instances, though, extenuating circumstances may make a court view acts that are grounds for a DUI arrest more leniently. This was…
When it comes to DUI offenses, many people associate them with operating cars, trucks, or SUVs while intoxicated. However, some states, like Illinois, have broader DUI laws that encompass operating any vehicle. A recent change in Oregon law highlights this point, as it reduces the penalties for operating a bicycle…
As marijuana laws continue to change throughout the country, states struggle to keep up with determining how and when to criminalize marijuana-related impairment. While many states have laws that allow people to be prosecuted for DUI if they operate a vehicle while impaired due to marijuana use, others have laws…
Many states are moving to impose harsher penalties against those who cause fatal drunk driving collisions, especially when the victim was a parent to a minor child. Texas recently joined Tennessee in enacting a law allowing courts to order child support payments to children who lost a parent in these…
As attitudes and laws regarding marijuana use evolve across the United States, states like Illinois that have legalized recreational and medical cannabis must update their DUI laws accordingly. With marijuana impairment more difficult to evaluate than alcohol impairment, people accused of driving under the influence of marijuana face many uncertainties.…