Let's say you're driving along an Illinois highway, and a police car comes up behind you and flashes lights to pull you over in a traffic stop. You pull to a stop on the side of the road, roll your window down, and prepare to show the officer your driver's license and vehicle registration card. The next thing you know, the officer asks you to step out of your car and then asks if you'd mind if he or she took a look inside your vehicle.
What is a statutory summary suspension?
If you are like most people in Illinois, you likely know that you could be at risk of losing your right to drive if you are ever charged with a drunk driving offense. However, you may not fully understand the processes involved with this penalty. There is one way that a person might lose driving privileges after being arrested for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and that is called the statutory summary suspension.
Defendant's mental competency questioned
Many Illinois residents know that there are conditions or factors that may impact a person's ability to process information correctly or to make appropriate decisions. This might happen due to a substance addiction but it may also be due to the fact that a person's natural mental state is somehow compromised. Mental illness is a serious problem for many people facing criminal charges and just how or when it is considered during the course of a defense might make a big impact in the outcome of a case and of a person's life.
