Last week the Illinois House voted for tougher requirements for taxi drivers. Under the bill, all cab drivers must be at least 21 years old, possess a driver’s license and have no serious traffic convictions for the past three years. Mayor Daley’s administration opposed the bill, however supporters of the bill point out that people have the right to a safe ride home. For more information on the bill, visit Tougher Rules for Cabbies Nearing
The Chicago Tribune featured an article in the February 24, 2010 edition on teen driving. The STANDUP Act (Safe Teen and Novice Driver Uniform Protection) would change the learner’s permit age to 16. The current age of to receive a learner’s permit in Illinois is 15. The article sites evidence that the long a teen waits to drive, the safer driver they are.
If you have a teen driver, encourage them to be careful, wear their seatbelt, and restrain from using cell phone while driving. If you teen has had driving troubles, call a lawyer for assistance. Keeping your teen’s driving record on track early on can prevent more troubles later.
A Norridge man was convicted on February 10, 2010 for his 7th DUI charge. He was sentence to 10 years in prison. A DUI is a serious matter and worth hiring a lawyer. Jail time, loss of licenses, and fines, court costs, and lost wages are all a possibility. A lawyer can help you through the process and work for the best resolution possible. Making sure all of your legal matters are taken care of, from a basic ticket to a DUI can save you time, money and future legal troubles.
Last December, Chris Chelios the Chicago hockey all-star and former Blackhawk player was pulled over and arrested for a suspected DUI. He completed field sobriety tests, but declined to take the breathalyzer. Chris’ next move was to call a lawyer. With the assistance of a lawyer the license suspension was thrown out and the charges will likely be dropped.
Having a lawyer is your guide to getting your life back on track. The Law Office of Brian E. Small only handles traffic law and license cases, so Brian knows what to look for in your case, what evidence is admissible, and what your options are. You don’t have to endure the legal process alone.
You may have seen in the news awhile back that courts were throwing out speeding tickets when the Lidar speed detector was used. That is no longer the case with a court ruling finding lidar speed detection scientifically sound. What does this mean for you? If you have a speeding ticket, it will not automatically be dismissed if Lidar was used. Having a lawyer present at even a basic ticket can help to save you headaches down the road.
It took me a little while to calm down before I wrote this post. Recently an Officer was accused of falsifying police reports in DUI arrests. I personally know people this officer has ruined the lives of. Ms. Alvarez determined she did not have a strong case to go in on.
However, why does she continue to prosecute clients of mine when she does not have any evidence?
On more than one occasion Assistant State’s Attorneys in Cook County will utter phrases like “I know I don’t have the proof, but my supervisor won’t let me drop it.”
I have DUIs that go to trial with no field sobriety or breathalyzer tests only the word of the officer that he/she smelled alcohol. Usually these cases are dismissed by the judge, but defendants still have to go through the time and expense of trial even when there is no case.
I ask people to remember this when she comes up for re-election. I understand a prosecutor is supposed to be tough, but if she is going to pursue cases that are weak on some fronts shouldn’t she pursue those cases which may be unpopular as well?
Illinois now bans texting while driving and imposes a fine of $75. However, multiple law enforcement sources are commenting on the virtual impossibility of proving their case in court. The Springfield Journal-Register is reporting here, that law enforcement right now can not determine people are texting and that State’s Attorneys are unwilling to subpoena the records to prove the case. Once again Springfield has a law on the books that only complicates our lives instead of simplifying them.
In short the message here is having a qualified attorney there at the time your going to court could save you a mark on your record.
I would like to give Rep Jack D. Franks a little shout out. Rep. Franks a Democrat from Woodstock has taken to task the revenue from Red Light Cameras. He introduced legislation (HB4686) that would lower the maximum fine from $100 to $50. While I wish he would introduce legislation that ban these out right we can all agree that Springfield would not let that happen. So here is to Rep. Franks and his effort to make driving a little easier in our state.
New Research is showing accident claims are not affected by bans on talking or texting on cell phones. So the next question is with this knowledge what will lawmakers do now? Will they come up with stricter penalties? Roll back legislation? or just leave them the same. Either way this supports my belief that many lawmakers just pass laws that look good without really addressing underlying problems.
For more information feel free to look here.
Attention drivers of commercial vehicles:
Effective immediately drivers of buses and vehicles over 10,000 are prohibited from texting nationwide.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35081605/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets/