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NOTE: WE ARE A PRIVATE LAW FIRM. THIS POST IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. PLEASE CONTACT THE COURTHOUSE DIRECTLY FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

How do I find criminal case or traffic ticket information in Illinois?

The individual Circuit Court clerks maintain the court records for each county throughout Illinois. Illinois does not currently have a comprehensive online system that allows you to search case information throughout the state. Each clerk’s office provides a different method for looking up case information online. While some counties have full access through their website, other counties require you to visit in-person or call the specific courthouse where your case took place in order to obtain case information. Many counties, including Cook County, are currently taking steps to expand their online access. Information related Cook County, Lake County, DuPage County and Will County is provided below.

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The Davis Law Group, P.C. is a Cook County based law firm that focuses on criminal law and DUI defense. The key to our successful client representation is a combination of an in-depth knowledge of the Illinois law and our skilled approach to negotiation and litigation of our clients’ cases in court. We combine this knowledge with a custom approach and strategy for each case, which allows us to reach the most favorable outcome for the clients that we represent.

DUI Defense Case Study – Bridgeview Courthouse

This is a case study of one such client who recently came to us facing incarceration in the Illinois Department of Corrections  after being charged with DUI. He was ultimately acquitted. The DUI defense lawyers at The Davis Law Group, P.C. defended this client at the Bridgeview Courthouse, more formally known as Cook County’s Fifth Municipal District Courthouse.  This particular DUI arrest occurred in Oak Lawn, Illinois and the case was brought to a bench trial by attorney David Mennie of The Davis Law Group, P.C.. Our legal team regularly represents clients with a variety of charges at the Bridgeview Courthouse.

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Every year, our attorneys see a variety of important changes to Illinois traffic laws. Here are a few of the new Illinois traffic-related laws effective in 2019.

1. Your first cell phone ticket will count as a moving violation. A first offense violation of the law prohibiting the use of electronic devices while driving will be charged as a moving violation. Under previous Illinois law, this offense only constituted a moving violation after a 2nd or subsequent offense. Fines under the new law are set at $75.00 – 1st offense; $100.00 – 2nd offense; $125.00 – 4th offense; and $150.00 – 4th or subsequent offense. These fines do not include mandatory fees/court costs. This law will become effective July 1, 2019.

2. You are no longer required to sign your citation in order to be released. A person who is stopped for a petty traffic offense, which includes most ordinary traffic offenses under the Illinois Vehicle Code, is no longer required to sign the citation in order to be released. Please note that petty offenses do not include more serious traffic offenses such as DUI, Driving While Revoked or Suspended, Reckless Driving, Leaving the Scene or an Accident, Drag Racing, etc. This law became effective January 1, 2019.

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Our Lake County DUI defense attorneys have an in-depth knowledge of Illinois DUI law and the ability to negotiate and litigate to secure the best possible outcome for our clients. Below is a recent case handled by the defense attorneys at The Davis Law Group, P.C. at the Waukegan Courthouse in Lake County, Illinois.

DUI Defense Case Study – Hawthorn Woods, Lake County, Illinois

The case summary below relates to a DUI arrest that occurred in Hawthorn Woods, Illinois. The case was assigned to the Waukegan Courthouse, more formally known as the 19th Judicial Circuit Court. This particular courthouse hears misdemeanor and felony cases that originate throughout Lake County, Illinois.

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Rideshare companies such as Uber and Lyft routinely disqualify potential drivers based on traffic tickets that appear on their driving records. These companies run background checks on all drivers in order to determine their eligibility when they first apply and periodically thereafter. Our traffic ticket defense attorneys are often contacted by rideshare drivers looking to clean up their Illinois driving record after finding out they have been disqualified by a rideshare company. Oftentimes, drivers don’t realize the consequences of simply paying a traffic ticket, which results in a conviction on their driving record. Fortunately, under certain circumstances, removing Illinois traffic tickets from your public driving record may be possible.

Rideshare companies have different standards for disqualifying a driver based on their driving record history:

Lyft Driving Record Requirements

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The Chicago DUI defense attorneys at The Davis Law Group, P.C. have decades of combined experience representing clients facing DUI charges as well as other traffic-related cases. Our approach combines a comprehensive knowledge of Illinois DUI law with the ability to negotiate and litigate in order to secure the most favorable outcome for our clients.

Chicago DUI Defense Case Study – Cook County, Illinois

The summary below describes a recent case handled by the DUI defense lawyers at The Davis Law Group, P.C. This specific DUI arrest occurred in the City of Chicago and was litigated at the Daley Center located in downtown Chicago. This particular courthouse is officially known as the Circuit Court of Cook County’s First Municipal District.

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Submitting to a breath test offered by a police officer has a variety of potential consequences. Of course, the question itself assumes that you have a choice – either agreeing or refusing – but do you? What is the difference between a breath test taken on the street after you are stopped by the police and the breath test offered back at the station after you have been placed under arrest for DUI? Are you required to take the physical field sobriety tests? Illinois DUI law is complex, our defense attorneys have provided guidance on these questions below.

What is the difference between a Preliminary Breath Screening Test (PBT) and an Evidentiary Breath Test?

A PBT is sometimes, not always, offered to drivers on the street before they are placed under arrest for DUI. The vast majority of PBT’s are not certified or calibrated the same way as the evidentiary breath test, which is offered at the police station. PBT’s can only be used for probable cause purposes to arrest a motorist for DUI but may not be used as evidence at trial.

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Drivers who are charged with high rate speeding offenses are often surprised to learn that they can face up to a year in jail under current Illinois law. These offenses are commonly known as aggravated speeding offenses and Illinois has increased the potential consequences for drivers who plead guilty or are found guilty of these charges.

Unfortunately, most drivers are not familiar with these changes to our speeding laws. After receiving a speeding ticket, many drivers are only concerned with the inconvenience of appearing in traffic court or the prospect of increased insurance rates. However, these Illinois speeding laws have substantially changed over the years.

Current Illinois law groups speeding offenses into two primary categories – petty and misdemeanor offenses. Speeding 26 or more over the posted limit is charged as a misdemeanor offense, which qualifies as a crime under Illinois law.

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Below are answers to frequently asked questions regarding driving records in Illinois. Driving records are different across all 50 states. Illinois driving records are maintained by the Illinois Secretary of State. They also are often referred to as driving record abstracts and motor vehicle records (MVR).

What information appears on an Illinois driving record?

  • Convictions (traffic tickets, including those issued in other states)
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Will Illinois find out about my out-of-state DUI?

Illinois is a member of the Driver’s License Compact, which is an agreement between states to exchange information regarding traffic violations and license suspensions or revocations of non-residents and forward that information to the state where they are licensed. Therefore, if the state where you are charged with DUI is part of the Driver’s License Compact, the appropriate authorities will report the information to the Illinois Secretary of State. Illinois will then treat the DUI as if it had been committed here.

While most states are part of the Driver’s License Compact, the few non-member states include Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. However, in practice, many of these states still report offenses to Illinois under their own laws and regulations even though they are not officially part of the Driver’s License Compact.

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