Overlooked Attacks on the Admissibility of the PBT TestBy Terry WallaceTraffic Laws and Courts, August 2024The portable breath test is a preliminary breath test used by a police officer prior to the defendant being arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol.
What’s New in Secretary of State Restricted Driving Permits?By Ted HarvatinTraffic Laws and Courts, May 2024The number one concern of most DUI clients who are not facing significant time in jail is the impact a DUI will have on their driver’s license and driving privileges.
Statutory Summary Suspensions/Revocations and Type A Injury AccidentsBy Larry A. DavisTraffic Laws and Courts, March 2024One of the more confusing aspects of the statutory summary suspension/revocation scheme in Illinois involves personal injury accidents and, more particularly, those known as Type A personal injury accidents.
What Is the Effect of Section 1286.40 of the Illinois State Police Rules on a DUI Prosecution?By Larry A. DavisTraffic Laws and Courts, March 2024In People v. Heineman, the Illinois Supreme Court considered a challenge to the conversion factor provided for in section 1286.40 of the Illinois State Police administrative rules in a criminal proceeding when the state sought to establish the defendant's whole blood alcohol concentration based on an emergency room treatment serum blood alcohol test result.
Consequences of a DUI Arrest in Another State When Holding an Illinois Driver’s LicenseBy Ted HarvatinTraffic Laws and Courts, July 2023In today’s mobile society, practitioners will frequently encounter clients who have Illinois driving privileges and receive a DUI in another state. Lawyers should make their clients aware of the possible driver’s license and driving privileges consequences of such a situation.
Limits on the Municipal Administrative Adjudication of Violations of the Illinois Vehicle CodeBy Larry A. DavisTraffic Laws and Courts, February 2023For those who follow Illinois traffic law at its intersection with municipal law, it is known that municipalities will, from time to time, seek to expand the use of administrative adjudication as a way to avoid enforcement of municipal ordinance violations in the circuit court.
The Money Stays Here? Municipalities Cannot Adjudicate Traffic TicketsBy Frank AndreanoTraffic Laws and Courts, February 2023It is no secret that traffic tickets raise significant revenue and who gets this money was the subject of a recent appellate court opinion in Cammacho v. the City of Joliet.
Private Property? Just Admit It: Request to Admit in Rescission HearingsBy Ted Hammel, Terrence Wallace, & Kristen MessamoreTraffic Laws and Courts, February 2023In a summary suspension hearing, the defendant can challenge whether the arresting officer had reasonable grounds to believe that the defendant was driving or in actual physical control of a motor vehicle upon a highway while under the influence of alcohol.
Probable Cause for DUI ArrestBy James SternTraffic Laws and Courts, February 2023People v. Workheiser reviews the factors to establish probable cause for a DUI arrest.
Driving While License Suspended and Supervision LimitsBy Jason WilkinsTraffic Laws and Courts, November 2022It is common for attorneys to pursue court supervision when a client is facing charges of driving while license is suspended or revoked.
SAFE-T Act ChallengesBy Sara VigTraffic Laws and Courts, November 2022State’s attorneys across Illinois have recently filed lawsuits alleging that the SAFE-T Act is unconstitutional because it violates the single-subject rule.
DUI Sentencing Errors Result in ResentencingBy J. Brick Van Der SnickTraffic Laws and Courts, May 2022In People v. Larson, the defendant appealed her conviction for aggravated DUI.
Unpaid Traffic or Automated System Fines No Longer Suspend, Cancel, or Prevent License RenewalBy Brian SmithTraffic Laws and Courts, May 2022As part of the enactment of the SAFE-T Act, as of July 1, 2021, drivers who have had their licenses suspended, canceled, or barred from renewal for unpaid traffic or automated camera system tickets will have those holds rescinded by the Secretary of State.
Changes to Supreme Court Rule 552By Brian SmithTraffic Laws and Courts, January 2022The Illinois Supreme Court issued final changes to several rules on September 29, including Rule 552, which governs how traffic citations are processed by the circuit courts.