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While Illinois State lawmakers are looking to legalize medical marijuana for around 10,000 Illinois patients in need, several states have had similar laws in place for years. In fact, Colorado (as well as Washington) not only legalized medical marijuana, but allow marijuana to be used for recreational purposes. Colorado marijuana state laws have recently made the news when State Officials scaled back prior estimates about the state’s retail marijuana industry. Those estimates were believed to be upwards of $1 billion in sales this coming fiscal year, but as of May, the industry has collected about 4.2 million in sales and excise taxes. The drug wasRead More →

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In recent news, Illinois State lawmakers have begun to finalize plans to allow medical marijuana to be bought and sold for patients that apply for an ID card this fall. This means that patients may be able to legally purchase as early as next spring. While it seems like things are moving along for the new industry, there are a few major kinks left to straighten out. Below is a list of those hurdles: Who will get a license? Before patients have the access they need to medical marijuana, State regulators have to figure out which business will get a license.  Before the chosen licensedRead More →

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More than 10,000 people die each year due to drunk driving. “In my mind, driving drunk only once is one time too many,” states Congresswoman Nita M. Lowry, who recently proposed a new law that mandates all convicted drunk driving offenders have a ignition interlock installed in their cars for no less than 6 months after their arrest. The law, Alisa’s law, was named in honor of the daughter of the current president of Mothers Against Drunk Driving — Jan Withers. Withers’ daughter, Alisa Joy, was killed in 1992 by an underage drunk driver. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, data suggests thatRead More →

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In December of 2007, Terry Vangelder was stopped by a patrolman in San Diego County after driving his pickup truck at the dangerous speed of 125mph. With Vangelder’s consent, the patrolman tested his blood alcohol content. The results suggested that Vangelder was driving with a blood alcohol content of .095 percent. Administering a second test, the results showed Vangelder at .086 percent – just .006 over legal limit. Cases like these occur all the time, making many question the reliability of DUI machines. One California motorist expressed his concerns for the machines, and at the end of last Month the Supreme Court answered – withRead More →

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Around 4am on Saturday, June 21st, 19 year old Erick Lopez allegedly crashed into a construction site while driving under the influence. This crash was fatal, killing an innocent bystander (who was working construction), as well as injuring himself and two passengers that he (Lopez) was driving. The accident took place at the 4900 block of South Western Avenue. According to The Chicago Tribune, Lopez had a blood content of .195 at the time of the accident – more than twice the legal limit of .08. The construction working who was killed as a result of the accident was 58 year old Jose Tafoya, whoRead More →

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The US Supreme Court has ruled that the provision of the Illinois Criminal Code that makes it a felony for a properly registered gun owner to possess a firearm on Illinois public land is unconstitutional and violates the Second Amendment to the United State’s Constitution its ruling in People of Illinois v. Alberto Aguilar, 2013 IL 112116, filed September 13, 2013.  In handing down the decision, the Supreme Court has effectively nullified an Illinois state law, making it a class four felony for a person with a valid FOID card to posses a loaded and uncased firearm on land other than their own immediately onRead More →

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There are many tactical advantages in obtaining a lawyer prior to your first court date.  First and foremost consider the ramifications on your Illinois driving privileges.  Once arrested for DUI, you will face a mandatory suspension of your Illinois driver’s license for a minimum of six months to one year for a first offender and a minimum one to three years for multiple offenders.  This suspension takes effect on the 46th day from the date your citation was issued.  Obtaining an attorney prior to your first court date affords you the best opportunity to rescind the DUI suspension and fully restore your driving privileges, manyRead More →