As part of its DUI statute, Illinois has a provision that provides that any amount of cannabis or controlled substance in a driver’s system may be the basis for a DUI charge. This is the only part of Illinois DUI law that permits a charge of driving while under the…
Chicago DUI Lawyer Blog
Former Harvey Superintendent Pleads Guilty to Official Misconduct
Former West Harvey-Dixmoor Elementary District 147 Superintendent, Alex Boyd Jr., 67, was sentenced to two years probation after pleading guilty to two counts of official misconduct for stealing $78,000. Boyd was originally charged with 20 felony counts of theft and official misconduct. He was accused of stealing approximately $500,000 by…
Fired Hebron Officer Accused of Selling Drugs on The Job
Authorities announced today that a former McHenry County police officer, Ryszard Kopacz, of Wauconda, faces new felony charges for selling drugs while on duty. Kopacz, 30, was arrested days after beginning his job with the Richmond Police Department. He was charged with official misconduct, burglary, and possession of stolen guns.…
New Illinois Law: “Sign and Drive” for Traffic Tickets
A new Illinois law eliminates the requirement that drivers post their license as bail for certain traffic tickets. The “Sign and Drive” law (Senate Bill 2583) permits the driver’s signature on the traffic citation to guarantee their appearance in court or payment of required fines. Under the new law, the…
Highland Park Doctor Accused of Issuing Fake Medical Cannabis Eligibilty Form
A Highland Park doctor faces allegations of issuing a fake medical cannabis eligibility form to a 79-year old patient. According to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Dr. Joseph Starkman met with the patient for 35 minutes and promised to mail him a certificate for use at an…
Schemes Target Illegal Immigrants Seeking TVDL Appointments
ABC 7’s I-Team investigated the TVDL application process whereby undocumented immigrants can apply for an Illinois driver’s license. According to the story, there are reports of “appointments-for-sale” schemes targeting these individuals. All applicants are required to schedule an appointment with the Secretary of State. Due to extremely high demand, appointments…
Medical Marijuana Rules Considered by Illinois Committee
The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) meets today in Chicago to discuss the rules governing the Illinois Medical Cannabis Pilot Program. The law has been passed, but patients are still unable to legally use the drug. If JCAR has no objections to the proposed rules, growers, retailers and patients…
New Illinois Law Prohibits Ticket Quotas
On Sunday, Governor Pat Quinn signed a bill into law restricting police departments from imposing ticket quotas on officers in Illinois. The Governor stated that officers should “not be forced to ticket motorists to satisfy a quota system” and explained that the new law will “prevent motorists from facing unnecessary…
Bill Eliminating Lifetime DUI Revocation Passes Out of Committee
On Wednesday, the Illinois House unanimously passed legislation out of committee that would allow those with a lifetime revocation based on DUI to apply for a restricted driving permit (RDP) before the Illinois Secretary of State. Those offenders with four DUI convictions would be eligible five years after losing their…
Illinois’ Medical Marijuana Dispensaries High Barriers to Entry
Illinois passed a bill in August legalizing medical marijuana and dispensaries are expected to open in 2015. Illinois will issue permits for 60 dispensaries throughout the state, a relatively low number of permits compared to other states. Aside from heavy competition, strict regulations and high costs are going to make…