By: W. Scott Hanken | Former Sangamon County Prosecutor | Springfield Criminal Defense & DUI Attorney |Voted “Best Attorney” — Illinois Times Best of Springfield & State Journal-Register Reader’s Choice | Springfield, IL • Sangamon County • (217) 544-4057 • hankenlaw.com The short answer: Illinois Scott’s Law (officially 625 ILCS 5/11-907(c), with 2026 expansions in…
Continue reading ›Articles Posted in Legal FAQ
By: W. Scott Hanken | Former Sangamon County Prosecutor | Springfield Criminal Defense & DUI Attorney |Voted “Best Attorney” — Illinois Times Best of Springfield & State Journal-Register Reader’s Choice | Springfield, IL • Sangamon County • (217) 544-4057 • hankenlaw.com Fireworks light up Lake Springfield every July. So does law enforcement’s radar. Independence Day…
Continue reading ›By: W. Scott Hanken | Former Sangamon County Prosecutor | Springfield Criminal Defense & DUI Attorney |Voted “Best Attorney” — Illinois Times Best of Springfield & State Journal-Register Reader’s Choice | Springfield, IL • Sangamon County • (217) 544-4057 • hankenlaw.com Short answer: Most fireworks are illegal in Illinois — and in Springfield, the ban…
Continue reading ›Public Act 104-0169 took effect July 1, 2026 — raising the mandatory road test age to 87 and expanding the in-person renewal threshold to 79. By: W. Scott Hanken | Former Sangamon County Prosecutor | Springfield Criminal Defense & DUI Attorney | Voted “Best Attorney” — Illinois Times Best of Springfield & State Journal-Register Reader’s…
Continue reading ›A Complete Guide to Civil and Criminal Protective Orders, Violations, Penalties, and Defenses Under Illinois Law By: W. Scott Hanken | Former Sangamon County Prosecutor | Springfield Criminal Defense & DUI Attorney | Voted “Best Attorney” — Illinois Times Best of Springfield & State Journal-Register Reader’s Choice | Springfield, IL • Sangamon County • (217)…
Continue reading ›By: W. Scott Hanken Former Sangamon County Prosecutor | Springfield Criminal Defense & DUI Attorney | Voted “Best Attorney” — Illinois Times Best of Springfield & State Journal-Register Reader’s ChoiceSpringfield, IL • Sangamon County • (217) 544-4057 • hankenlaw.com The short version: Starting July 1, 2026, Illinois law treats the posting or distribution of a…
Continue reading ›By: W. Scott Hanken Former Sangamon County Prosecutor | Springfield Criminal Defense & DUI Attorney | Voted “Best Attorney” — Illinois Times Best of Springfield & State Journal-Register Reader’s Choice – Springfield, IL • Sangamon County • (217) 544-4057 •hankenlaw.com The short answer: Illinois’ Joe Coleman Act, also called the Medical Release Act, lets someone…
Continue reading ›By: W. Scott Hanken Former Sangamon County Prosecutor | Springfield Criminal Defense & DUI Attorney | Voted “Best Attorney” — Illinois Times Best of Springfield & State Journal-Register Reader’s Choice – Springfield, IL • Sangamon County • (217) 544-4057 • hankenlaw.com The short answer: Under Illinois’ SAFE-T Act (Pretrial Fairness Act), the State has to…
Continue reading ›By: W. Scott Hanken Former DUI Prosecutor | Voted “Best Attorney” by Illinois Times & State Journal-RegisterSpringfield Criminal Defense & DUI Attorney Springfield, IL • Sangamon County • (217) 544-4057 If you’ve been arrested for a DUI in Springfield, the clock is already ticking. To help your DUI attorney build a defense against flawed Field…
Continue reading ›Navigating Illinois DUI laws can be confusing and stressful. Whether you are worried about license suspension or jail time, understanding the statutes is the first step toward a strong defense. What is the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit under Illinois DUI laws? In Illinois, it’s illegal to drive with a BAC of 0.08% or…
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