Most people are aware that if you are charged with retail theft or shoplifting in Illinois, you may face harsh criminal consequences that could seriously affect your future. These effects frequently include being able to find work, qualify for housing, and receive loan approval, among other things. With all mentioned above, it is important to speak with an experienced criminal defense lawyer. 

What Are the Penalties for Retail Theft?

The severity of the punishment for retail theft typically depends on the value of the goods that were either stolen or attempted to be stolen. You will likely be charged with a Class A Misdemeanor, which has a maximum punishment of one year in jail and a fine up to $2,500, if the value of the item was $300 or less. If the value of the item exceeded $300, you may be charged with a Class 4 felony, which carries a potential jail term of one to three years.

What Are Your Options?

Individuals who have been charged with retail theft may have a number of ways to handle their case. The choices that are available, if any, rely heavily on the unique facts and circumstances of each case. For a first-time offender in particular, the following are some possible lines of action:

If you or someone you know has been arrested for a drug paraphernalia charge in Illinois, it can be a scary and overwhelming experience. However, it is important to stay calm and take the necessary steps to protect your rights.

Contact a Criminal Defense Lawyer Immediately

The first and most important step is to contact a criminal defense lawyer immediately. A skilled lawyer can guide you through the legal process, explain your rights, and defend your case in court. It's important to find a lawyer who is familiar with Illinois drug laws and has experience handling drug paraphernalia cases. A lawyer can provide you with the legal representation and advice you need to navigate the legal system.

Be Aware of Penalties for Drug Paraphernalia Charges in Illinois

The penalties for drug paraphernalia charges in Illinois can be severe, including fines, community service, probation, or even jail time if there are additional charges. If you are convicted of a drug paraphernalia charge, it could also affect your employment opportunities, housing options, and future criminal record. Therefore, it is important to take your case seriously and work closely with your lawyer. Your lawyer may be able to negotiate a plea bargain, reduce your charges, or even have your case dismissed. However, it is important to remember that every case is different, and there is no guarantee of a specific outcome.

When a driver in Illinois refuses to submit to or fails a chemical test for an alleged driving under the influence (DUI) offense, it can result in a statutory summary suspension of driving privileges. State law provides that a person fails a chemical test when they have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or more, a THC level above the legal limit, or other illicit substances in their system.

Statutory summary suspensions are automatic and become effective 46 days after the date of a suspension notice. People can request judicial hearings to challenge arrests, but the requests may not stop suspensions from taking effect. 

DUI Testing Penalties in Illinois

The statutory summary suspension is an administrative process.  A DUI criminal charge is separate from the statutory summary suspension penalties and will be prosecuted and adjudicated in the courts. 

The Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986 is established under 750 Illinois Compiled Statute (ILCS) § 60. Domestic battery is one of the most common kinds of domestic violence offenses committed in the state. Domestic violence charges are only applicable when allged crimes are commited against certain types of people.

Under 750 ILCS § 60/103(6), domestic violence offenses involve harm against spouses, former spouses, parents, children, stepchildren and other people who are related by blood or by present or prior marriage, people sharing or formerly sharing a common dwelling, people with a child in common, and people with dating or engagement relationships. Domestic violence can include physical abuse, harassment, intimidation, or interference with personal liberty.

Domestic Battery Penalties in Illinois

When law enforcement responds to a possible domestic violence incident, chances are very high that at least one person is going to be placed under arrest. People can face domestic violence charges even when police officers do not obtain any evidence of violence.

Most people in Illinois are aware that the state imposes criminal penalties for drinking and driving, but fewer realize that criminal penalties for driving under the influence (DUI) crimes increase with repeat offenses. If you were arrested for a second or third DUI offense, you may be facing severe criminal penalties. It is important to work with a DUI defense lawyer who can help you defend yourself against the charges. 

Repeat DUI Penalties in Illinois

There are administrative penalties for failing a chemical blood alcohol content that are separate from any criminal penalties resulting from a DUI conviction. Many DUI traffic stops begin with police officers requesting that the alleged offender submit to breath alcohol testing. Failing a breath test leads to driving privileges being suspended for six months. Failing a chemical test a second or subsequent time will be punishable by driver’s license suspension of one year. If a person refuses to submit to chemical testing, then their driving privileges are suspended for one year for a first offense and three years for a second or subsequent offense.

Multiple factors can impact a person’s sentencing for a DUI crime in Illinois. In addition to the number of time a person committed the offense and their blood or breath alcohol content (BAC), their own age and the age of their passengers can also be important. For most first DUI offenses, a person will be charged with a Class A misdemeanor that is punishable by up to 364 days in jail, a fine of up to $2,5000, and one year revocation of driving privileges.

Illinois legalized marijuana in 2020, and adults over 21 years of age are able to legally possess, consume, and purchase cannabis in the state. However, it must be consumed on private property or properties with on-premises consumption licenses.  Public consumption is still illegal in Chicago. It is also illegal for people to consume cannabis in any vehicle or operate a motor vehicle under the influence of cannabis. Cannabis may be transported in a vehicle but it cannot be accessible by any occupant of the vehicle during transportation and must be in a child-resistant container. Cannabis purchased in Illinois cannot be transported to another state.

Marijuana can be purchased at licensed dispensaries, but the possession limitations include 30 grams for Illinois residents and 15 grams for non-residents. The limitations for cannabis-infused products are 500 milligrams of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) for Illinois residents and 250 milligrams of THC for non-residents.

If you were charged with a criminal offense related to marijuana, contact a drug crime criminal defense lawyer for help. 

Roadside sobriety testing can be embarrassing, frightening, and sometimes confusing. Officers do not always use the most reliable or reasonable methods for attempting to make a snap judgment about a person’s level of intoxication. More than that, roadside sobriety testing can sometimes be greatly unfair, occasionally to the point where the results genuinely reveal little or nothing about whether a person is intoxicated. Police officers are often more interested in making a DUI arrest than in ensuring fair and reasonable field sobriety tests, on which they frequently base their decisions to make an arrest. Many factors, from weather-related challenges to improper footwear or poorly articulated instructions, can create unfairness, and even affect the validity of a roadside sobriety test. If you suspect that you were set up to fail a roadside sobriety test, it is important to raise this point with your criminal defense attorney. 

Unfair Challenges During Roadside Sobriety Tests 

If you have ever seen roadside sobriety testing demonstrated, it was likely in a well-lit area on a mostly flat surface. Under conditions like these, field sobriety tests can offer relatively strong evidence of a person’s intoxication or sobriety. However, your field sobriety tests may not offer much information about your state at the time of arrest if you were faced with unfair challenges such as:  

• High winds - High winds can throw off a person’s sense of balance, particularly when they are attempting to stand on one leg or walk in a perfectly straight line. Officers may claim that a person was swaying from side to side when in reality, they were struggling against high winds.

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Everyone wants their case to be dismissed, or at least to be acquitted at trial. In many cases, getting off the hook completely is entirely possible. If the evidence is not so strong, or the police have violated your rights in a serious way, then hoping for dismissal or acquittal is not unreasonable at all. However, courts do not just dismiss cases once criminal charges have been filed without a very good reason. In some cases, taking a plea bargain may be the best strategy for minimizing the impact the charges could have on your life. Before you consider changing your plea or taking any other offer made by the prosecution, it is crucial to discuss your options with an experienced attorney. 

Situations in Which Taking a Plea Bargain May Make Sense

One of the big risks of going to trial is that if you are convicted at trial instead of pleading guilty to a lesser offense, you may face harsher sentencing for a more serious crime. Some factors that may push you and your lawyer toward accepting a plea bargain include: 

• Avoiding a felony - Being a felon can mess up the rest of your life in a way that having a misdemeanor would not. If your original charge is a felony offense, and you are offered a plea bargain that would reduce it to a misdemeanor only, it may be better to play it safe. 

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Violence is all too common in Chicago. The city is known for having constant struggles with violent crime, often including a disproportionate amount of homicides and shootings. Attempts to crack down on violent offenses are underway - and you do not want to get caught in a wave of prosecutions against those accused of committing them. If you have been charged with an assaultive offense, it is important that you understand what your particular charge actually means. You may find that your charges seem incredibly aggressive or are far too severe in regards to what actually happened. In many cases, an attorney can have very serious felony charges reduced to something much less serious during the process of plea bargaining. But first, you need to know exactly what it is you are accused of doing.

What are Battery and Aggravated Battery?

Battery or aggravated battery - The basic definition of battery in Illinois is making unjustified physical contact with a person that either causes them bodily harm or is insulting and likely to provoke them. In its misdemeanor form, battery could include actions like slapping or pushing someone.

Aggravated battery is much more serious. It is a felony. This offense is charged when a battery is committed and an aggravating circumstance exists, such as:

Getting charged with a DUI can be frightening. If you find out that you have been charged with a felony DUI, the situation is even direr. Felony charges can carry more than a year of prison time should you get convicted. While most DUIs are charged as a misdemeanor, even a first DUI can lead to felony charges in the wrong circumstances. Or, repeated DUIs can be charged as a felony. In some cases, it is possible for an attorney to help have your charges reduced back to a misdemeanor or dismissed. A lot will depend on the specific facts of your case, such as whether you injured someone and whether the police officers did everything correctly. The first thing you need to do is reach out to a qualified criminal defense attorney.

What Is Misdemeanor DUI?

A simple first or even second DUI is generally going to be charged as a misdemeanor. If you were simply pulled over with a BAC that was a bit too high, you are more likely than not looking at a misdemeanor, which carries less than a year of jail time. If this is your first offense, then a good attorney can typically make a strong case that jail time is not appropriate. Your attorney is very likely to suggest that you take the initiative of getting treatment for alcohol abuse.

Why Would a DUI be Charged as a Felony?

If you are being charged with a felony DUI, it is probably for one of these reasons:

Being charged with a crime you did not commit can be a nightmare. One of the most common offenses that innocent people are charged with is domestic violence. It is shockingly easy to be arrested for domestic violence based on a false accusation, often by an angry romantic partner. There are a number of reasons that people make these false accusations. It is extremely easy for a simple fight between a couple to spiral out of control. Perhaps a neighbor called the police because they heard yelling and the police arrested you for lack of a better solution. Or maybe your romantic partner intentionally filed a false police report out of spite. However it happened, it is extremely important that you focus on building a strong defense. A domestic violence conviction is heavily stigmatized and can impact the rest of your life.

Steps Innocent People Can Take After a Domestic Violence Arrest

How you handle the accusation will make all the difference. Steps you should take include:

• Get a lawyer - The most important thing you can do to help yourself is to find a good lawyer. A domestic violence charge is far too serious to handle on your own.
• Obey the protection order - If you were arrested for domestic violence, you were most likely served with a protection order that prevents you from contacting the alleged “victim” or going to their home. If you lived with the liar, this means you cannot return home. As difficult as it may be, it is extremely important that you strictly obey the terms of the restraining order. A violation can get you arrested again, and that charge might stick even if the original domestic violence charge goes away.
• Do not post about it - As tempting as it may be to lambast the person who made the false accusation on social media, or to vent about the situation to your followers, do not do this. It is best to avoid mentioning the charge or the alleged “victim” on social media entirely.
• Show up for court - As frightening and uncomfortable as it may be to appear before a judge for something you did not do, you absolutely must show up for court dates. If at all possible, try to find an attorney before your first court date.
• Prepare for trial - Domestic violence charges are very rarely just dropped. You may need to go to trial to fight the charge.

While being charged with a crime you did not commit is incredibly scary, dismissal or acquittal is possible. However, you must handle your case correctly.

Drivers of commercial vehicles, including long-haul trucks, delivery vehicles, and other vehicles driven for work-related purposes, put significant time and effort into obtaining a commercial driver’s license (CDL). Since this type of license is a requirement for certain occupations, the loss of a CDL may affect a person’s ability to continue earning an income, and it could cause significant financial difficulties for them and their families. Because of this, drivers will need to be aware of CDL violations that could affect them, and they will want to respond promptly to traffic tickets or other issues that could affect their careers.

CDL Disqualifications for Traffic Offenses

Certain types of offenses are considered to be “major violations” that will result in the automatic disqualification of a CDL. DUI is one of the most common of these offenses. When driving a commercial vehicle, a person will be considered to be intoxicated if they have a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .04 percent or higher or if they are under the influence of controlled substances. However, a commercial driver may also lose their CDL if they are convicted of drunk or intoxicated driving in a non-commercial vehicle.

Other offenses that are considered major violations include leaving the scene of an accident while driving a commercial or non-commercial vehicle, committing a felony while operating a vehicle, or committing vehicular homicide while driving a commercial vehicle. In most cases, a person’s first major violation will result in the disqualification of their CDL for one year, and a second major violation will result in a lifetime disqualification. However, if a person uses a vehicle to commit felony drug crimes related to manufacturing or distributing controlled substances, they will face a lifetime disqualification for a first offense.

Originally published: December 26, 2016 - Updated April 20, 2022

Update: At our law firm, we have consistently kept up with all of the changes to the laws regarding marijuana use in the state of Illinois. A few years ago, we put together the post shown below as a consideration in the decriminalization of cannabis that was going on at the time. We highlighted some expert opinions that expressed concern over the use of drug-sniffing dogs in the state as the criminal penalties for low-level marijuana possession were being lifted.

Today, these concerns have grown even further as the state of Illinois has fully legalized the recreational use of cannabis for adults in the state. As of January 1, 2020, an adult over the age of 21 is permitted to possess and consume cannabis for recreational purposes and to purchase cannabis from state-licensed dispensaries.

When you are arrested on charges of driving under the influence, you probably realize that the criminal penalties for a conviction can be severe. It may come a surprise to learn that you could face administrative penalties, including the suspension of your driving privileges, even if the criminal charges against you are dropped or you are found not guilty of DUI. Our experienced criminal defense lawyers understand that most DUI cases are multi-faceted, and we are equipped to help you at every stage of the proceedings.

Blood Alcohol Content Testing

Chemical testing for blood alcohol content, or BAC, is one of the most common methods used by law enforcement to collect evidence in a DUI-related case. If you have been pulled over by police and the officer asks you to submit to such testing—usually a breath test—but you have not been arrested, you have the right to refuse the test with no legal or administrative consequences. If you have been placed under arrest on suspicion of DUI, however, and the officer requests a chemical test, the entire situation changes.

Under the state’s implied consent laws, by operating a motor vehicle on Illinois roads, you agree to submit to requested BAC testing if you are arrested for DUI. If you are arrested and you refuse such test, your driver’s license will automatically be suspended the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office. Your license will also be suspended if you submit to the test and fail it. A failed chemical test means a BAC level of 0.08 or more for most non-commercial adult drivers. The standard is lower for commercial driver’s license holders, and any trace of alcohol constitutes a failed test for drivers under the age of 21. 

If someone asked you right now, could you stand on just one foot for 30 seconds while holding your other foot just off the floor? What about walking heel-to-toe along a straight line, then turning and coming back on the same line? What if the line was imaginary, and you could not see it? Did you know that if you had trouble with either of these exercises, federal agencies indicate that there is about an 80 percent chance that you are currently intoxicated?

Clearly, this was meant to be an exaggeration, but the reality is that the tests mentioned in the previous paragraph are actually part of the battery of tests that the police use every day to test drivers who are suspected of being impaired by alcohol or drugs. The results are commonly used as evidence for the prosecution in DUI cases, even though the tests are not quite as accurate as the police and prosecutors want you to believe they are.

What You Should Know About FSTs

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) recognizes three tests as being effective in establishing a driver’s impairment level. Together, these three tests are known as the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, or SFSTs. The horizontal gaze nystagmus test, or HGN, is used in addition to the walk-and-turn and the one-leg stand tests. The HGN test requires the driver to follow a pen or a finger using only his or her eyes. (The officer is watching for involuntary eye movements, particularly at the periphery, that are used as indicators of impairment.) The tests are usually administered together, and courts across the country generally accept the results as evidence of the driver’s intoxication. Such evidence, however, can and sometimes should be challenged.  

On January 1, 2020, marijuana became legal for recreational use in Illinois. While the state had previously allowed marijuana to be used for medical purposes by people who had received a state-issued medical registration card, all adult residents of the state and visitors from other states are now allowed to possess and use marijuana. However, there are certain limits that apply to recreational use of marijuana, and people may still face drug charges if they violate the state’s marijuana laws.

Drug Charges for Possession or Distribution of Marijuana

The Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act made it legal for adults over the age of 21 to possess a certain amount of marijuana for recreational use. A person may possess up to:

• 30 grams of marijuana plants

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Gas prices have skyrocketed over the decades and paying for fuel is one of the most onerous aspects of car ownership. However, the State of Illinois gives no free passes for gas theft. The crime is punished harshly, with serious consequences that can upend your life. Gas theft takes many different forms. The offender may drive to the gas station and siphon gas directly into his vehicle or walk to the pump and fill a jerry can or barrel.

If you are charged with the crime of gas theft, you have the right to legal representation. An experienced criminal defense lawyer can provide you with options and chart a path forward based on your needs.

Misdemeanor v. Felony Gas Theft

Per Illinois law, theft occurs when a party knowingly steals property belonging to someone else. You can also face theft charges for buying or receiving stolen goods. The element of intent is important in a fuel theft case. The offender must knowingly take fuel without paying for it and without any available pretense that would justify his actions (e.g., being told by the station owner not to pay for the gas).

If you are accused of domestic violence, you may also be the subject of a protective order. Courts issue protective orders to preserve the safety and well-being of domestic violence victims. They may be imposed if the offender allegedly abused, harassed, or intimated the victim. An order is also warranted if the personal liberty of the victim was allegedly violated, or they were willfully deprived of basic necessities so as to put them at risk of physical, mental or emotional harm.

Protective orders are issued when an alleged victim is threatened or harmed by a former or current household or family member, including: 

• People related to the offender by blood
• Those who reside in the same home as the offender
• People who have a child with the offender
• A person who is married to or dating the offender
• People with a disability or other high-risk adults at risk of abuse.

The State of Illinois takes domestic violence very seriously and imposes harsh penalties for violating a protective order.

There is no doubt that domestic violence is a real concern in the Chicago area. On average, more than 500 people call domestic violence hotlines every day in the Chicago area.

The state of Illinois takes domestic battery and family violence very seriously. Individuals convicted of domestic violence offenses often face lengthy prison sentences and other serious consequences. Sadly, some people use Illinois’s strict policies to “punish” or get revenge on others by reporting false accusations of domestic violence.

If you or a loved one were accused of domestic violence by a current or former romantic partner, household member, or family member, contact a criminal defense lawyer right away for personalized legal guidance.

Breath interlock ignition devices connect to a car, truck, van, or other vehicle and control the vehicle’s ignition switch. In order for the ignition to engage and the vehicle to start normally, the driver must submit a breath sample into the mouthpiece of the device by blowing into it. The device analyzes the driver’s breath for alcohol. If the device registers any more than a negligible amount of alcohol on the driver’s breath, the car will not start. If the breath sample contains no alcohol, the car starts normally. Read on to learn about how Breath Alcohol Interlock Ignition Devices (BAIIDs) are used in Illinois and whether you will be requested to get a BAIID installed on your car after an arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol.

When Is a BAIID Required in Illinois?

If you are arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) in Illinois, and you fail a breath test such as a Breathalyzer, your driver’s license is automatically suspended for six months. If you refuse to take the Breathalyzer, your license is suspended for a year. Once your license is suspended, it becomes unlawful for you to drive any vehicle for any reason. At this point, you have two options: You can refrain from driving until the suspension period is over or you can ask for driving relief through a Monitoring Device Driving Permit (MDDP).

Adult drivers who have not previously received a statutory summary suspension or been convicted of DUI may be able to regain driving privileges through an MDDP. To get an MDDP and regain your ability to drive, you must have a BAIID installed on your car. You will have to submit an alcohol-free breath sample anytime you want to start your car. You will have to submit additional breath samples while you are driving intermittently. The MDDP only allows you to drive in the vehicle containing the BAIID. You are prohibited from driving a vehicle without a BAIID.