Every state imposes time limits, or statutes of limitations, on a person’s ability to file criminal charges. If a certain amount of time has passed since the criminal offense, the person charged with the crime can move to have the case dismissed as untimely. By requiring that a criminal suit take place within a few […]
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Can Law Enforcement Search Your Purse If You Are a Passenger in A Vehicle Stopped for A Traffic Violation?
No, law enforcement is not permitted to search your purse if someone you are riding with is stopped for a traffic violation. While law enforcement is allowed to conduct a brief investigatory stop, [T]he police officer must be able to point to specific and articulable facts which, taken together with rational inferences from those facts, […]
Read MoreWhen Can an Officer Stop a Driver for Operating a Vehicle Without a License?
Law enforcement is not permitted to stop a driver operating a vehicle without a reason. Under Terry v. Ohio 392 U.S. 1 (1968), a police officer may conduct a brief, investigatory stop of a person where the officer reasonably believes that the person has committed, or is about to, commit a crime. This means that […]
Read MoreDriver’s License Suspension and Driver’s License Revocation, What’s the Difference?
While a driver’s license suspension and revocation of your driver’s license both mean the loss of your driving privileges, they aren’t the same thing. Illinois law 625 ILCS 5/1-204 defines the driver’s license suspension as [t]he temporary withdrawal by formal action of the Secretary of a person’s license or privilege to operate a motor vehicle […]
Read MoreWhat Happens After a Third DUI in Illinois?
Illinois has very strict DUI laws. Like all states, we don’t allow drivers to operate motor vehicles with a blood alcohol content (BAC) level of 0.08% or higher. Additionally, Illinois has a zero-tolerance policy for minors and alcohol. This means that minors must have a BAC of 0.00% when behind the wheel. The penalties for […]
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