Having an out of state license, for example, a Wisconsin or Indiana license and being charged with a DUI in Illinois presents special circumstances. First, the Statutory Summary Suspension which suspends a person’s license who is charged with DUI will only suspend the driver’s ability to drive in Illinois. So, you can drive in your…
A Victim Impact Panel, (commonly referred to as a “V.I.P.”), is a two hour presentation given by individuals who have either been impacted by a drunk driver or by individuals who either injured or killed a person when they were driving drunk. Client’s have told me that this was the class that was most beneficial…
If you lost your Illinois driver’s license because of two or more prior driving under the influence of alcohol charges you can get your license back through a process called a “formal hearing” before the Illinois Secretary of State. The purpose of the formal hearing is for the Illinois Secretary of State to determine if you…
If you just received a DUI, the sooner you retainer a good, experienced DUI attorney the better. There are steps that can be taken to protect your license. The quicker the steps are taken, the better chance you have of saving your license. See “Statutory Summary Suspension” information on this website. Further, do not do…
Today I was in Court at the Courthouse located in Maywood, Illinois (Maybrook) the 4th District. I decided to continue a hearing on a Statutory Summary Suspension because the Judge had a very full call and by demanding the hearing, it would keep the Judge in Court past 4:00p.m. and it was clear he wanted…
In most criminal cases, if the officer fails to appear in court on a court date, your case will not be dismissed. A DUI case, driving on a suspended license case, are misdemeanor case. Both misdemeanor and felony cases require that you are provided with a trial within 160 days, 140 days if your in…
Once you lose your driver’s license, getting your license back has to be done through the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office. Depending on the circumstances, you will need either an informal hearing or a formal hearing. The subject of the hearing, the testimony and evidence that has to be presented is based upon the reason…
There are two types of Secretary of State hearings: informal and formal. Formal hearings have to be reqested in writing, require a $50.00 fee and are scheduled 5-7 weeks after receipt of the written request. There are only four locations for formal hearings in Illinois: Chicago, Joliet, Mt. Vernon and Springfield. Informal hearings do not…
A BAIID device is a machine that is installed in your vehicle. Before your allowed to start the vehicle and at various times when you are driving your vehicle, you must provide a sample of your breath into the machine to confirm that you have not consumed alcohol. The Illinois Secretary of State requires you…
The first court date after a DUI Arrest occurs approximately 30 days after the day of arrest. The court date is set on the police officer’s “key.” Every officer is given a certain day or two each month that they are scheduled to appear in Court. For example the key of “W” will stand for…