Drinking and driving in Illinois is a serious offense. Even if you have never found yourself in trouble with the law before, getting charged with a DUI may have serious consequences. Under Illinois law, anyone caught driving a car with a blood alcohol content of .08...

Shoplifting may not seem like a major offense, but it has the potential to considerably impact a person's life depending on the severity of the situation. Illinois classifies it as a felony in certain cases (the stolen goods have a combined value of over $300 or the...

On TV, scriptwriters do not always get it right when picturing various criminal defense actions. For example, did you know that Illinois recognizes distinct differences between theft, robbery and burglary? Theft means that you intentionally took something that was not...

While borrowing a fire truck and taking it for a spin may seem harmless to some, Illinois law enforcement officials may file several serious charges. When a 30-year-old Prairie State resident allegedly stole a running fire truck, he faced traffic violations and a...

Not every criminal case ends with an acquittal or the dismissal of charges. The accused may find that the judgment involves probation, which has the benefit of keeping the person out of the Illinois prison system. Of course, the defendant has to follow the rules of...

In addition to fines, some driving offenses carry points in Illinois. These points accumulate on the driver's motor vehicle record and may result in license suspension.  After receiving a traffic ticket, review the point system for Illinois traffic offenses.  ...

If you are a fan of cop shows, you may be able to recite the Miranda warning from memory. This is the advisement officers have a legal duty to give criminal suspects before beginning a custodial interrogation. The warning includes two elements: your right to remain...

Under the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, Illinois residents over the age of 21 can now purchase small amounts of cannabis from licensed retail sellers. Because of legalization, which began on Jan. 1, 2020, individuals may apply for an expungement of a prior criminal...

The laws of each state make it possible to punish those who take a life, and like those laws, self-defense laws vary. Illinois does not have a Castle Doctrine statute that states that people may use reasonable force to defend themselves against an intruder. However,...

At one time or another, virtually everyone has driven a few miles above the speed limit. If you are traveling too fast when you enter a speed trap, you are not likely to have much luck trying to talk yourself out of a speeding ticket.  Usually, speeding tickets have...