Springfield Criminal Defense Blog

All 50 states have ignition interlock device laws DUI offenders. However, the specifics of interlock device laws between states. In the state of Illinois, both first-time and subsequent offenders must install an ignition interlock device on their cars if they wish to continue driving. According to the office of the Illinois Secretary of State, a…

There are many different types of moving violations that may result in traffic tickets in Illinois. Speeding, reckless driving and illegal lane usage are just a few of the driving behaviors that lead to tickets and driver’s license points. While most people are familiar with the immediate penalties of getting a traffic ticket, such as…

Illinois law requires residents who wish to own weapons to apply for a Firearm Owners Identification card. Law enforcement officials may, however, rescind an individual’s FOID card for a variety of reasons, including domestic violence or mental health issues. As noted by The Chicago Tribune, Illinois does not have a reliable method to determine whether…

What happens when Illinois officers pull residents over on suspicion of DUI? In these cases, they will run tests to see if you are over the legal alcohol limit. One way to check your blood alcohol content (BAC) level is through breath tests. But what are these tests? How accurate are they? Today, we will…

Illinois cracks down hard on anyone accused of driving under the influence. You should know as much as possible about the tools used by law enforcement. Today we will focus on field sobriety tests. Officers often use these tests as a “first line”. Based on results, they may administer other tests like blood or breath…

When you think about drug crimes, usage or selling of outlawed substances usually comes to mind first. However, drug paraphernalia is also illegal to possess across the nation. Items and their usage Paraphernalia is often defined as an object used for drugs. Some examples include bongs, pipes made of clay, spoons used for the ingestion…

What happens when Illinois law enforcement suspects you of DUI? They look at many different factors. They do not rely on your field sobriety test results alone. The signs that they keep an eye out for are more subjective. But when combined with a high blood alcohol content (BAC) level, officers can use it to…

When a law enforcement officer gives you a speeding ticket based on “clocking” your speed with a radar gun, you may think you might as well admit your guilt and pay the ticket. Most people believe that radar gun evidence is incontrovertible. This, however, is not always the case. FindLaw explains that sometimes radar guns…

When you receive a traffic ticket in Illinois, it will almost always say that going to court is not a requirement. Frequently, an officer may tell you that if you pay the fine, you will not have to go to court. Even though that officer may have good intentions, missing out on your opportunity to…

If you are suspected of drunk driving, the officer will usually administer a field sobriety test. The horizontal gaze nystagmus test tracks a person’s eye movement while following an object, such as a pen. Certain involuntary jerking movements of the eyes during this test are thought to indicate intoxication, especially when other test results show…