While some traffic violations in Illinois are criminal misdemeanors, most tickets are considered petty offenses. This means that if the allegation sticks, a person will have to pay a traffic fine and other fees. Although the ticket will probably appear on a person’s driving record and involve an assessment of points against their license, it…
Continue reading ›When you face an assault charge or any other charge that results from a crime of violence, you have likely already been told about how much of an effect these charges can have on your life. Depending on the severity of the charges, you could face thousands in fines and years, if not decades, in…
Continue reading ›Even though you’re considered innocent until proven guilty, the police are going to think the worst of you when they see something that they think is indicative of criminal wrongdoing. This is often seen in the context of alleged drunk driving, where the police automatically assume that slurred speech or unsteady balance is conclusive of…
Continue reading ›Although the prosecution may present physical evidence against you in your case, they’re probably going to heavily rely on witness testimony to try to obtain a conviction. Since the trier of fact, either the judge or jury, will be tasked with assigning that testimony with the appropriate amount of weight, you have to ensure that…
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Last Reviewed & Updated: September 27, 2026 By: W. Scott Hanken | Former Sangamon County Prosecutor | Springfield Criminal Defense & Violent Crimes Defense Attorney | Voted “Best Attorney” — Illinois Times Best of Springfield & State Journal-Register Reader’s Choice | Springfield, IL | Sangamon County | (217) 544-4057 | hankenlaw.com In Illinois, self-defense is…
Continue reading ›There are a lot of moving parts in your criminal case. And, although it may seem like a lot to tackle, you have to competently address every one of them if you hope to maximize your chances of successfully defending yourself. This means protecting your rights during the investigation phase, engaging in proper jury selection,…
Continue reading ›Drug charges involving the selling, trafficking or possession of illegal drugs are severe in every state. When the amounts of a drug in possession are high, authorities often add on the additional charge of trafficking, which can trigger much more serious federal charges. If the suspect is carrying a firearm at the time of arrest,…
Continue reading ›We have all seen the commercials, the traffic signs and the radio commercial: “don’t drink and drive,” “drink, drive, go to jail,” etc. However, life happens and we all make mistakes. Sometimes, those mistakes can lead to drinking and driving, but if one is pulled over at this point, what do they do? Mitigation The…
Continue reading ›While it is true that we generally do not have to interact with the police or help them with an investigation. If we are pulled over in our vehicle, this is a forced interaction we must participate in. Traffic violations When one is pulled over because of some traffic violation, the police officer has to…
Continue reading ›Weapons offenses are serious criminal charges that can lead to serious possible criminal penalties and consequences. Because individuals accused of committing weapons crimes can face the potential loss of their freedom, fines and other possible penalties and consequences, they should be familiar with how to protect themselves from these charges. The most common types of…
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