November 19, 2010 (Press-News.org) As the winter holiday season approaches, Lake County area police will be stepping up their DUI enforcement efforts throughout the county. If you are going to be out drinking, the best way to ensure that you are not ensnared by these efforts is to take a cab, use a designated driver or make other arrangements to get home.
To pull you over for suspected DUI, the police first must have probable cause to do so. In practical terms, this usually happens when the police witness you breaking a traffic law, like speeding or driving well below the speed limit, weaving in and out of lanes of traffic or failing to come to a complete stop at a stop sign. In fact, minor traffic violations are one of the most common ways the police find drunk drivers.
Police officers look for a variety of indicators to spot potential drunk drivers, including:
- Turning widely
- Braking erratically
- Driving without headlights
- Weaving, swerving, drifting out of the lanes
- Straddling the center line
- Responding slowly to a change in traffic signals
- Turning abruptly
- Accelerating or decelerating rapidly
Once you are pulled over, the police officer will begin assessing whether you are drunk. This will include looking to see if your eyes are bloodshot, if you smell of alcohol, if you slur your speech and display other visible signs of intoxication. The officer's impressions of you can be enough to arrest you for a suspected DUI and give the probable cause necessary to ask you to take a breathalyzer.
A DUI conviction in Illinois comes with steep penalties for even first time offenders, including up to one year in jail, up to $2500 in fines, a six month license suspension and mandatory use of a breath alcohol ignition interlock device (BAIID).
DUI Stops Can Result in Arrests for Other Crimes
While every driver stopped for a potential DUI may not ultimately be charged with violating Illinois' drunk driving laws, the stop gives police officers the opportunity to find other violations the driver may have committed. Some of the most common violations that are discovered during a DUI stop include:
- Driving on a revoked or restricted driver's license
- Illegal firearms
- Drug possession
- Outstanding arrest warrants
During a DUI stop, the police can only search your vehicle if they have probable cause to believe they will find evidence of a crime or other legal violation. If the police have probable cause, they can search inside your vehicle, including the glove compartment and the trunk.
The police also can confiscate anything from your vehicle that may be in plain view. This can include a beer can peeking out from underneath the passenger's seat, a baggie of drugs tucked inside a cup holder or other contraband that can be viewed from their position outside of the car.
What to Do if You Have Been Pulled Over for a DUI
When you are pulled over by the police, whether for a suspected DUI or other charge, it is important that you are courteous to the police officer. You should know, though, that you do not need to answer any of the officer's questions, especially if the officer asks if you have had anything to drink. From the moment you are pulled over, the officer is collecting information about you to determine whether or not you can be charged with drunk driving or another offense.
If the police officer asks you to get out of the car, you are required to do so. However, never in any circumstances give the police officer permission to search your car, even if you believe you have nothing to hide. You also are not legally required to complete any field sobriety tests, which are just another way to collect evidence against you to charge you with a DUI. While you can refuse to perform a breathalyzer, Illinois law will penalize you for it with up to a one year license suspension.
If you have been charged with a DUI, you should contact an experienced DUI defense attorney as soon as possible. The attorney can began working for you to determine the strength and legality of the evidence collected against you. For example, if the police did not have probable cause to search your vehicle, then the search was illegal and any evidence they gathered during it is not admissible at trial.
Contact an Experienced DUI Attorney
DUI laws in Illinois have become so severe that even one drink can put you at risk for being charged with a drunk driving offense. While it is always best to avoid driving at all after drinking, sometimes mistakes are made and the last thing you need is for anyone, including your attorney, to judge you for it. For more information on defending against a DUI charge, contact a knowledgeable DUI defense attorney today.
Article provided by Albert L. Wysocki, A Professional Corporation
Visit us at www.albertwysocki.com
Approaching Holiday Season Means Increased DUI Patrols in Illinois
Every major holiday brings with it increased DUI enforcement in Illinois. Minor traffic offenses often tip the police off to suspected drunk drivers.
2010-11-19
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
Bankruptcy Exemption Basics in Ohio
2010-11-19
Many people may be wary of filing for bankruptcy because they have heard that they will lose many of their assets, including their homes and cars. The truth, however, is that many of those filing for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy will be able to keep most of their personal possessions.
Below you will find information on the available bankruptcy exemptions under Ohio law. For more information on how these exemptions will apply to your specific case, contact an experienced bankruptcy attorney.
Keeping the House, the Car and Your Retirement Accounts
Under Ohio ...
Downturn in Economy Sees Upswing in Disability Claims
2010-11-19
Social Security Administration data shows that Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) applications have more than doubled in the period from 2000 to 2009. There were 2,816,244 applications filed last year. Soaring disability claims in the midst of a plummeting economy has some questioning the legitimacy of claims.
Unemployment and the Disabled Worker
A recent disability advocate's study reflects that the unemployment rates for people with disabilities reached its highest quarterly rate in the third quarter of 2010. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates ...
A Review of Recent Leandra's Law DWI Arrests
2010-11-19
New York's tough new law on drunk driving, Leandra's Law, has largely been in effect since December 2009. Leandra's Law increases penalties for offenders who are convicted of DWI with a child in the vehicle, in addition to heightening the requirements for driving after a DWI conviction.
Since the law was passed, numerous New York drivers have been arrested and charged with felony DWI.
Overview of Leandra's Law
Leandra's Law, formally known as the Child Passenger Protection Act, was signed into law by New York Governor David A. Paterson in November 2009. The law ...
Richland County Coroner Questions South Carolina DNA Evidence Law
2010-11-19
South Carolina passed a DNA preservation law two years ago to reduce the chance that evidence could be prematurely destroyed before a criminal defendant's legal appeals had been exhausted. But the strict wording of the law has caused Richland County's coroner to withhold cremation permits due to uncertainty, and he recently expressed worry that he may need to postpone burials.
The use of DNA in criminal investigations is a popular feature of television crime shows, and it has had a profound effect on criminal investigations involving murder, assault, sex crimes and other ...
Nursing Home Abuse is Widespread and Takes Many Forms
2010-11-19
Elder abuse has become a growing problem nationwide. The government estimates that between one and two million Americans over age 65 have been injured or mistreated by caregivers.
According to the Illinois Department of Aging, it is estimated that more than 76,000 Illinois residents over the age of 60 are elder abuse victims each year. This November the state closed the Orchard Court Nursing Home for failing to comply with safety regulations. The state may potentially revoke the licenses of six other long-term care facilities.
The true scope of nursing home abuse ...
Sidewalk Fall Injuries in New York City
2010-11-19
With more than 12,000 miles of sidewalk, 8.4 million residents and 47 million visitors each year, it should come as no surprise that slip-and-fall accidents are as common as pigeons in New York City.
The extreme heat in the summer and cold in the winter wreak havoc on the city's sidewalks, creating holes, uneven surfaces, cracks and other hazards that can trip up even the most seasoned New York City pedestrians.
In most American cities, the law holds municipalities responsible for maintaining the safety of public sidewalks - and this was the rule for years in New ...
Leading Perimeter Hotel in Atlanta Announces a New Director of Sales
2010-11-19
The Holiday Inn Express & Suites Atlanta Perimeter Hotel North near Dunwoody, GA, which is part of Imperial Investments, LLC, recently named Pamela Haney their new Director of Sales. The premier Atlanta Perimeter hotel is pleased to welcome Ms. Haney to their management team. Haney is an experienced professional who has worked in the hospitality industry for the past 4 years with Hampton Inn and the Doubletree Alpharetta properties. Prior to that, she worked for Trammell Crow, a property management company. Haney has 20 years of experience in sales and customer relations. ...
Thistle Marble Arch Announces its Head of Housekeeping is Housekeeper of the Year
2010-11-19
Thistle Marble Arch's treasured head of housekeeping, Barbara Sheridan, is celebrating her new title of Housekeeper of the Year. Barbara received the honour at the annual industry awards ceremony celebrating operational excellence within hotels; the Hotel Cateys 2010.
Also shortlisted in the competition were housekeepers from London's Athenaeum Hotel, London's Park Plaza Riverbank and Manchester's Radisson Blu Hotel at Manchester Airport. Barbara gladly collected the sought-after award at a glamorous ceremony held in central London.
Fondly regarded by the entire ...
Superbreak Announces New Event Breaks
2010-11-19
Superbreak, the short break specialist, has announced the addition of several headline acts to its concerts and events break programme. The company has secured tickets to some of the most popular pop, rock and comedy acts currently touring including Kings of Leon, Bon Jovi and Peter Kay.
Recently Superbreak has noticed a surge in demand for its event breaks as its hotel and ticket packages for Take That's Progress Tour went on sale and interest into other live events soared. The Yorkshire based tour operator has responded to current customer demands' for big name acts ...
2entertain Announces the Release of Outnumbered Series Three on DVD
2010-11-19
2entertain has announced the release of Outnumbered series three on DVD. Fresh from its success at the 2009 British Comedy Awards, including the top prize of Best Comedy, the semi-improvised family-based sitcom Outnumbered returns for a third series.
Written by Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkins (creators of 'Drop the Dead Donkey') this critically acclaimed comedy puts three young children at the very centre of the story - and allows them to improvise.
Series 3 introduces conspiracy theories, sex education, psychotherapy, colonoscopies, astrology and kangaroo saliva ...
LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:
Insulin resistance is linked to over 30 diseases – and to early death in women, study of people in the UK finds
Innovative semaglutide hydrogel could reduce diabetes shots to once a month
Weight loss could reduce the risk of severe infections in people with diabetes, UK research suggests
Long-term exposure to air pollution and a lack of green space increases the risk of hospitalization for respiratory conditions
Better cardiovascular health in early pregnancy may offset high genetic risk
Artificial intelligence method transforms gene mutation prediction in lung cancer: DeepGEM data releases at IASLC 2024 World Conference on Lung Cancer
Antibody–drug conjugate I-DXd shows clinically meaningful response in patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer
IASLC Global Survey on biomarker testing reveals progress and persistent barriers in lung cancer biomarker testing
Research shows pathway to developing predictive biomarkers for immune checkpoint inhibitors
Just how dangerous is Great Salt Lake dust? New research looks for clues
Maroulas appointed Associate Vice Chancellor, Director of AI Tennessee
New chickadee research finds cognitive skills impact lifespan
Cognitive behavioral therapy enhances brain circuits to relieve depression
Terasaki Institute awarded $2.3 Million grant from NIH for organ transplantation research using organs-on-a-chip technology
Atoms on the edge
Postdoc takes multipronged approach to muon detection
Mathematical proof: Five satellites needed for precise navigation
Scalable, multi-functional device lays groundwork for advanced quantum applications
Falling for financial scams? It may signal early Alzheimer’s disease
Integrating MRI and OCT for new insights into brain microstructure
Designing a normative neuroimaging library to support diagnosis of traumatic brain injury
Department of Energy announces $68 million in funding for artificial intelligence for scientific research
DOE, ORNL announce opportunity to define future of high-performance computing
Molecular simulations, supercomputing lead to energy-saving biomaterials breakthrough
Low-impact yoga and exercise found to help older women manage urinary incontinence
Genetic studies reveal new insights into cognitive impairment in schizophrenia
Researcher develops technology to provide cleaner energy and cleaner water
Expect the unexpected: nanoscale silver unveils intrinsic self-healing abilities
nTIDE September 2024 Jobs Report: Gains in employment for people with disabilities appear to level off after reducing gaps with non-disabled workers
Wiley enhances NMR Spectral Library Collection with extensive new databases
[Press-News.org] Approaching Holiday Season Means Increased DUI Patrols in IllinoisEvery major holiday brings with it increased DUI enforcement in Illinois. Minor traffic offenses often tip the police off to suspected drunk drivers.