Unlawful Use of a Weapon Charge
Tag: Cook County
Unlawful Use of a Weapon Charge
A common charge in the state of Illinois is Unlawful Use of a Weapon. Often, this charge will be related to firearms, but the law includes other weapons as well, such as knives, explosives, tasers,
Concealed Carry of Firearms in Illinois
Gun owners in Illinois are required to maintain a valid Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) card. This license enables individuals in the state to legally possess firearms and ammunition. Residents looking to carry their handguns concealed
Criminal Damage to Property in Illinois
Halloween is a good time to review Criminal Damage to Property charges in Illinois. This holiday encourages harmless pranks and antics, but sometimes young people can get carried away, make mistakes, and need the assistance
Burglary in the State of Illinois
There are a variety of burglary charges that defendants may encounter depending on the circumstances of their arrest. Let’s review a few of the most common types of burglary charges that individuals face in Illinois
Driving Under the Influence of Marijuana
One of the most common driving offenses in the state of Illinois is Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol. In addition to DUIs written for those under the influence of alcohol, Illinois also prosecutes individuals
Impounded Vehicles in Chicago
There are a variety of reasons that your vehicle may be impounded by the City of Chicago. In the past, we have explored how the City generates a lot of revenue through vehicle impoundment by
Drinking in Public in Chicago
Summer in Chicago provides residents with many opportunities to enjoy the outdoors before we are forced inside for another winter. It also provides Chicago Police with many opportunities to write citations for residents drinking alcohol
Reckless Driving in Illinois
In addition to Driving Under the Influence of Drugs or Alcohol (625 ILCS 5/11-501) or Aggravated Fleeing and Eluding (625 ILCS 5/11-204.1), there are other traffic offenses in Illinois that are serious, such as Reckless
Alcohol-Related Charges Common in Illinois
People all across Chicago and Illinois will be celebrating the 4th of July weekend with friends and family at barbecues, fireworks displays, and parties. Many of these celebrations will have alcohol present for guests to
Court Supervision in Illinois
Many of my clients ask me, “What is supervision?” In Illinois, if you are charged with a misdemeanor criminal offense you are most likely eligible for “Court Supervision” even if you are found guilty after
Standardized Field Sobriety Tests and Portable Breath Tests
In the State of Illinois, there are number of tests that a law enforcement officer may administer if they suspect a motorist to be intoxicated. First, an officer will administer the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests
Possession/DUI Laws During Festival Season
Summer is almost here in Chicago, meaning a calendar full of street festivals and concerts nearly every weekend. After a cold winter inside, events like Lollapalooza, Pitchfork Music Festival, Do Division, and Jazz Fest feel
Expunging/Sealing Criminal Records in Illinois
In many instances, you are able to request that your criminal records are expunged or sealed after a period of time after the offense occurred. There are differences between expunging and sealing. Expunging vs. Sealing
Public Urination Ordinance in Chicago
According to DNA Info, the places you are most likely to get a ticket for public urination are “typically close to a train station, a boozy stretch of nightclubs or both.” Areas like Division and
Assault Charges Under Illinois Law
Under Illinois law, an individual commits “assault” when, “without lawful authority, he or she knowingly engages in conduct which places another in reasonable apprehension of receiving a battery.” That means that assault is committed when
Unlawful Possession of Ammunition in Illinois
To legally possess a firearm in the State of Illinois an individual must carry and maintain a Firearms Owners Identification (FOID) card. However, you may not know that a FOID card is also required to
Domestic Battery in Illinois
The most serious misdemeanor offense you can face in Illinois is Domestic Battery (720 ILCS 5/12-3.2). Only a DUI (625 ILCS 5/11-503) may jeopardize your career, family circumstances, and personal life as much as a
Aggravated Fleeing and Eluding
In addition to Driving Under the Influence of Drugs or Alcohol (625 ILCS 5/11-501) or Reckless Driving (625 ILCS 5/11-503), there are other traffic offenses in Illinois that are serious, such as Aggravated Fleeing or
Unlawful Use of a Weapon in Illinois
Weapon and firearm offenses are serious criminal cases for prosecuting attorneys in both Federal and Illinois State courts. A common charge is Unlawful Use of a Weapon. Though other weapon types fall under this charge,
Probation Violation Hearings in Cook County
Defendants facing criminal charges in Cook County should be concerned about the possibility of jail or prison time. However, only a small percentage of first-time offenders charged with misdemeanors and non-violent felonies will be sentenced
Sentence Credit in Illinois
In Illinois, defendants facing years of prison may not actually have to complete their entire sentence. Defendants are often eligible for sentence credit based on the completion of programs or services rendered while they are
Retail Theft in Illinois
In Illinois, there are different levels of retail theft charges for which the punishments can differ. A punishment can increase from misdemeanor to felony after a theft exceeds a relatively low monetary value. Retail theft
Bail Bonds in Cook County
In Illinois, a defendant charged with a felony criminal offense is entitled to a bond hearing to determine the amount of bail. A person charged with an offense is allowed counsel at the hearing at
Motion to Dismiss Criminal Charge for Improper Venue
A court’s jurisdiction is “the authority given by law to a court to try cases and rule on legal matters within a particular geographic area and/or over certain types of legal cases.” Basically, it is
Right to Refuse a Portable Breath Test (PBT)
In Illinois, there are two chemical breath tests that may be offered to a person suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol. First, after an officer administers the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFTS), he
Driving Under the Influence of Drugs
When you hear “Driving Under the Influence,” you are most likely thinking that it is referring to alcohol. In fact, the first statute under 625 ILCS 5/11-501 states that “the alcohol concentration in the person’s
Armed Robbery Charge Steep for Young Adults
Robbery occurs when one person takes another’s property by physical force or with the threat of physical force. Armed robbery occurs when a weapon, most often a gun, is used during a robbery. An armed
Constructive Possession Of Drugs In Illinois
When you hear about a drug bust, the first thing that comes to mind is probably the stacks of drugs being seized by the authorities that you see on the evening news. However, most charges
Rampant Vehicle Impoundment Fines in Chicago
When you are charged with a DUI in Chicago, IL, you may be subject to a $2,000 fine, plus towing and storage for seizure and vehicle impoundment. However, Chicago has recently been impounding the vehicles of
No Valid Driver’s License Felony DUI
No Valid Driver's License Felony DUI In Illinois, your first DUI can be charged as a felony depending on the circumstances of your arrest. Typically, your first arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol