Every state imposes time limits, or statutes of limitations, on a person’s ability to file criminal charges. If a certain amount of time has passed since the criminal offense, the person charged with the crime can move to have the case dismissed as untimely. By requiring that a criminal suit take place within a few […]
Read MoreBlog
Can Law Enforcement Search Your Purse If You Are a Passenger in A Vehicle Stopped for A Traffic Violation?
No, law enforcement is not permitted to search your purse if someone you are riding with is stopped for a traffic violation. While law enforcement is allowed to conduct a brief investigatory stop, [T]he police officer must be able to point to specific and articulable facts which, taken together with rational inferences from those facts, […]
Read MoreWhen Can an Officer Stop a Driver for Operating a Vehicle Without a License?
Law enforcement is not permitted to stop a driver operating a vehicle without a reason. Under Terry v. Ohio 392 U.S. 1 (1968), a police officer may conduct a brief, investigatory stop of a person where the officer reasonably believes that the person has committed, or is about to, commit a crime. This means that […]
Read MoreDriver’s License Suspension and Driver’s License Revocation, What’s the Difference?
While a driver’s license suspension and revocation of your driver’s license both mean the loss of your driving privileges, they aren’t the same thing. Illinois law 625 ILCS 5/1-204 defines the driver’s license suspension as [t]he temporary withdrawal by formal action of the Secretary of a person’s license or privilege to operate a motor vehicle […]
Read MoreWhat Does it Mean to Be a Sanctuary State and is Illinois One?
If you follow immigration news, you’ve probably seen the term “sanctuary state” popping up in headlines. An estimated 564 U.S. jurisdictions, including states and municipalities, are now considered sanctuaries, protecting immigrants from deportation through refusal to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. What is a Sanctuary State? You may have heard the term “sanctuary city” before. […]
Read More