A former Urbana (Champaign County) firefighter has been sentenced to jail. At the time of the offense, he was under a court ordered conditional discharge as a result of a previous conviction for driving under the influence (DUI). In the state of Illinois, there is a law that makes it…
In November 2011, a Will County man was arrested for DUI for the third time in less than 12 months. Laws in Illinois are created in two ways. The first is judge made law, known as “case law” because it is decided based upon specific cases. The second type of…
The Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS Chapter 5) governs the rules and obligations of all motorists operating a motor vehicle on the public roadways of the State of Illinois, including the DUI laws. The Illinois General Assembly, elected by the citizens of this state, writes these laws, which are known…
A woman from Paris, Illinois, county seat of Edgar County, faces charges of aggravated DUI. In this tragic incident, the defendant (the accused) was allegedly driving south in the northbound lane when her vehicle struck an oncoming vehicle causing a crash. As a result of the crash, two passengers on…
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,…