Lake County Driver's License & DUI Law Blog

One of the things that truck drivers know is that they are supposed to keep their rigs in working order and operate them in a safe manner. But truckers spend several hours on the road every day and are just as capable of making a mistake or missing as any other motorist. The problem is that truck drivers are supposed to comply with even more state and federal regulations than other drivers are required to.

This means that it may not be uncommon for a trucker to end up facing the penalties for a number of violations. The difference between a trucking violation and other moving violations, however, is that a trucker can face losing his or her job for getting one. In order to avoid getting a citation, truckers in Illinois should know that a safety crackdown for truckers has been announced.

People who make their living in the transportation industry can face some serious consequences if they are arrested for driving offenses. Besides possible jail time and fines, they can lose their job and their livelihood as well. This can be especially true for a driver who is charged with drunk driving, on or off the job. 

Getting a DUI in Illinois can be devastating for a person's reputation and career if he or she makes a living by driving. This is why it can be crucial for a person to defend themselves against DUI charges. Not only can it keep a person's driving and criminal clear, but it can limit the possibility that someone will end up losing a job because of a conviction for drunk driving. 

We have likely all heard or made comments about how dangerous young, teenage drivers are behind the wheel. People have this picture in their heads that teens are typically reckless and speeding, cruising around with too many people in their cars and the music blaring in the middle of the night.

But is this a fair, or accurate, picture? According to recent reports, the answer is actually no. Graduated licensing laws in Illinois and the threat of license suspension seems to have sent an important message that teens are paying attention to. 

With the advancement in technology, people all across Illinois are expected to be accessible at all times and respond to email or text requests immediately. Many people have developed a sense of urgency whenever it comes to making or staying in contact with someone. We check Facebook several times a day, read an email the second it is delivered and are notified on our phone any time someone texts us. However, some people find it difficult to shut down these lines of communication when they are driving and can end up being cited for a traffic violation. 

People may be aware that it is not legal to text while driving in Illinois. Education and marketing efforts have been launched to make sure drivers are aware of this. However, it may not always be clear that a person is also restricted when it comes to the use of a hand-held phone behind the wheel. Do you know when it is okay to chat on your cellphone and when it is not?

Many drivers across Illinois may have gotten an unwelcome surprise this past weekend if they were pulled over by police. Periodically throughout the year, Illinois law enforcement ramps up efforts to cite drivers for unlawful driving behavior. Often times, the crackdowns are aimed at identifying drunk or even distracted drivers, but this does not mean that these are the only infractions for which they are citing drivers. Motorists who may be driving on a suspended driver's license are often among those who are stopped and cited in these situations. 

Last week, the Illinois State Patrol announced that they would be conducting roadside checks across parts of the state over the weekend. They stated that they would be primarily focused on citing drivers for drunk driving, but they also say they would stop any driver for operating their vehicle in an unsafe manner. This included driving with a suspended or revoked license.

People know that we are all supposed to comply with traffic laws so that we do not get into an accident, but everyone makes mistakes. Sometimes we do not think it is a big deal to drive too fast or quick glance at our cell phone, but police in Illinois are more determined than ever to pull over drivers and ticket them for unlawful behavior, no matter how minor it may be.

One of the behaviors that police focus on citing drivers for the most is distracted driving. In Illinois, it is a primary offense to text while driving, which means that an officer does not need any other reason to pull over a driver. In many states, it is also illegal to use a handheld phone at all while driving. It was this offense that got one driver in some serious trouble.

Many people in Illinois are understandably intimidated by police officers and do not like facing the possibility of being arrested. The fact is that being pulled over and suspected for misconduct like drunk driving can stir up many emotions for people. These emotions can make people act out in ways that they may not expect or typically exhibit, and can take the form of anger, aggression and a confrontational attitude.

Even the people who you would never expect to be involved in a dispute with police can lash out when they feel as though they are being unfairly targeted or mistreated. Recently, for example, Oscar-winning actress and Hollywood sweetheart Reese Witherspoon issued an apology for her uncharacteristic behavior during a recent traffic stop.

Imagine being pulled over by police and not being exactly sure the reason for it. The red and blue lights are flashing all around, and a police officer approaches the car and starts asking questions. Many drivers in this position get understandably nervous and do not know what to expect. They do not want to get in trouble, but people must also remember that they still have rights that the police need to respect. This can be especially true when it comes to potential drunk driving charges in Illinois.

There are very rigid procedures in place in regards to DUI arrests. Police must have probable cause to pull over a suspected drunk driver and there are certain processes that must be executed properly if and when a police officer decides to test a person for possible intoxication. However, there have been many instances recorded that involve police violating these procedures which can lead to an unlawful arrest.