In 2011, the Illinois Supreme Court handed down its decision in People. v. Martin, 2011 IL 109102. The issue involved a fairly technical legal question known as “causation”. Causation refers the notion that in the criminal law, a person is responsible for the outcome of an event only if the…
A McClean County judge sentenced a Bloomington-Normal man to 20 years in prison following his 11th conviction for driving under the influence (DUI) In the State of Illinois, it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle on the public roadways while you are under the influence of alcohol. 625 ILCS…
Illinois has a law against Driving Under the Influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs. 625 ILCS 5/11-501 and following. Some people are surprised to learn that they can be arrested for DUI in Illinois even if they are involved in a crash in which they are the only ones injured.…
Many states impose lifetime bans on driving privileges after someone is convicted of a certain number of driving under the influence (DUI) offenses. Illinois has a similar provision that on its face seems straightforward but is difficult to navigate. The Illinois law setting forth the consequences of a DUI conviction…
Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) is convinced that the answer to DUI (Driving Under the Influence) is to require anyone convicted of DUI to install an ignition interlock device. In Illinois, this is known as a Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Device (BAIID) A machine designed to measure the alcohol content…
On October 22, 2010, Brittney Rhea Butler was driving on Route 143 in Madison County, Illinois. The motor vehicle she was operating slammed into the rear of a vehicle that was stopped on the highway waiting to make a left turn. In Butler’s 1985 Cadillac was a 35 year-old passenger,…
In Illinois, there are several consequences that flow from an arrest for Driving Under the Influence (DUI). The DUI statute, found at 625 ILCS 5/11-501, states, in part, that “(a) A person shall not drive or be in actual physical control of any vehicle within this State while: (1) the…
The University of Illinois is the flagship university in Illinois. The main campus is located in the twin cities of Urbana-Champaign, Champaign County. There are branch campuses in other cities, including Springfield, Illinois. As a Big Ten university, the U of I has a football program. Being a university, it…
One of Mike Ditka’s sons, Mark Ditka, was arrested for DUI in Lake County Illinois. This follows closely on the heels of his brother Michael’s DUI arrest last month, his third. Some may recall their father Mike Ditka, former NFL football player, coach and television announcer, was arrested for DUI…
Under the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, the state cannot force you to give evidence against yourself (you have “the right to remain silent”; you can “take the Fifth”). Under the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution, you have the right to a lawyer when you are…