Is CDL Ticket Dismissal Possible in Illinois?

As a CDL license holder, your career depends on the card that says you’re legally allowed to drive commercial vehicles. However, if you’ve received a CDL ticket, you may be worried about your future as a commercial truck driver. 

Is a CDL ticket dismissal possible in Illinois for your case? In some cases, you may have a chance to seek a dismissal, avoiding harsh penalties that could affect your future. Talk to your Chicago traffic ticket lawyer about your options, so you don’t have to worry about losing your income due to one simple mistake.

Why You Need to Fight a CDL Ticket

As a trucker, you don’t have as many opportunities to make mistakes. These big trucks are much more dangerous than other vehicles on the road. The results of a minor mistake could be catastrophic and deadly. That means the penalties for CDL tickets are matched to the potential severity of the aftermath.

For example, you won’t be punished based on the driving points system. Instead of that system, you’ll lose your license for a set time based on how many violations you have. 

Because of this, if you’re convicted of two or more serious traffic violations within three years, your license may be suspended. That affects your financial future. You’ll have to learn how to find employment in an entirely different industry.

Don’t Accept Reduced Penalties

You may have an option for a reduced sentence, especially if you attend driving school. Some drivers think this may be the easiest way to avoid consequences and keep their license. Unfortunately, it could lead to more trouble over time. 

Accepting reduced penalties does still often mean you’ll have a conviction on your record. If you’re ticketed again, it could affect whether you get to keep your license. Those penalties can still haunt you, so it may be better for your future to fight back with a lawyer’s help. 

Your Options for a CDL Ticket Dismissal 

If you’re ticketed and your CDL license is in danger, you have the chance to beat that traffic ticket in court. You’ll start by pleading not guilty and getting a court date. 

From there, your attorney can help compile evidence that proves you weren’t breaking the law. This evidence can vary, from phone records to photos and even expert witnesses. Your lawyer can help you determine what evidence you need, and they can present that evidence in court on your behalf.

Talk to Your CDL Ticket Lawyer

When you’re accused of breaking a traffic law, you’re already in trouble. If you’re a CDL license holder, the risk of losing your license is even higher, and it could lead to a suspension that affects your livelihood. 

Luckily, you don’t have to accept a license suspension. You have a chance to fight those charges with a Chicago CDL ticket lawyer from Chicago Trusted Attorneys™. Instead of risking your license, talk to a lawyer, who can make your CDL ticket dismissal possible in Illinois. 

To talk to a lawyer about your ticket, reach out for help by calling 312-519-3171 or by filling out the contact form below to learn more about our firm.

How Do I Find My Case in the Cook County Criminal Court?

How Do I Find My Case in the Cook County Criminal Court?

When you’re accused of a criminal offense, you may need to take action now to avoid a conviction and the penalties that could come with that. Unfortunately, you may be unsure where to start. 

Often, getting started with information about your case, such as your arrest, your court date, and any other information the court may have on file, can help refresh your memory and help you know what to expect. However, you may not have a copy of your case. 

So, how do you find your case in the Cook County criminal court? Your lawyer can help you find the best option for you. 

Finding Your Case in the Cook County Criminal Court

First, heading to the court and talking to the Cook County criminal court clerk may be your first step. Your information should be available at the courthouse, which can help you get started. These records should contain the arrests, complaints, and warrants for your case, among other documents.

To locate your case information, you and your Chicago criminal defense lawyer can start by getting to the right office. Your lawyer can show you where to go to minimize the time you would have spent searching for the right room. 

Then, you’ll provide your name, date of birth, the year of your arrest or arrests, and the charges brought forward. The clerk can use that information to pull up your case and give you the information you need. 

Seeking Your Criminal Case Information Online

While records available online aren’t official like the ones you would receive at the courthouse, you don’t always have to leave your house to get answers about your Cook County criminal case. You may instead check your case information through the court’s website. 

This online service contains information on both historical cases and in-progress cases. That means this site may be useful whether you’re actively fighting your case or you’re trying to get your record expunged

While you’ll need the full records from the courthouse for your case, this information can also help you fill in any needed information about your case. You or your lawyer can use your case information to search for your case. You’ll then be able to read any public information available about your situation, which can help you get started on your Cook County case. 

Get Help with Your Criminal Case with a Chicago Criminal Defense Attorney

If you’ve been accused of a criminal offense, you may need help getting information for your case. That information can help you understand your case, take action now, and fill in any questions you may have about your situation. 

However, getting that information from the right sources can be difficult. If you’re struggling to find your case in the Cook County criminal court system, reach out for a lawyer at Chicago Trusted Attorneys™. We can help you seek information for your case when you’re struggling to understand your case. 

Get started with a consultation about your case with your lawyer. We can discuss your record and what we can do to help you get that information. All you have to do is give us a call at 312-519-3171 or fill out the online form below. 

What to Do When Your Teen Is Charged with a DUI in Illinois

What to Do When Your Teen Is Charged with a DUI in Illinois

As parents, we like to know that our children aren’t just safe—we also like to know that they’re not doing anything that could harm others. Unfortunately, you might have let your child out with friends, only to get a call later that they’ve been arrested for drinking and driving. 

Many people don’t know what to do when their teen is charged with a DUI in Illinois. This can be a scary time for you and your child. Fortunately, your lawyer can help. 

Legal Limits for Teen Drivers

If your child is underage, they may be facing strict DUI laws, and the results could haunt them for months or years after the case. Illinois is a zero-tolerance state, which means that if your teen has any measurable amount of alcohol in their system, they could be arrested and charged with a DUI

Worse, they may have tried to refuse a sobriety test, which resulted in an automated suspension. Implied consent laws state that if you have a drivers license, you consent to a sobriety test, which could mean your child is in trouble. Their Illinois license may be suspended for up to six months if they refuse a sobriety test. 

Penalties for Underage DUI 

The penalties can be harsh, too, if your child is under twenty-one and convicted of a DUI. For a first DUI conviction, their license could be revoked for a minimum of two years

A revocation is more serious than a suspension, too. A suspension would mean getting their license back at the end of the suspension after paying a fee. If your teen’s license is revoked, they will have to retake their driving test after the minimum time period is up.

Helping Your Teen Avoid a DUI Conviction 

Protecting your child’s future is important, which is why you and an Illinois DUI lawyer may be needed as soon as your child is arrested. Your lawyer can explain how to post your child’s bail, and from there, they can prepare a defense for you and your child in the courtroom. 

For example, your teenager might not have been driving the car, or they may have a health condition, like diabetes, which has some similarities to drunkenness. For example, type 1 diabetics having a blood sugar problem may have slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, and even breath that smells like alcohol. 

Once you have a defense, your attorney can take your child’s case to court. Your lawyer should fight for your family, helping your teen get their charges reduced or dismissed when possible. 

Contact an Illinois DUI Lawyer for Your Teen

If your child has been pulled over and arrested for drunk driving, it can be tough to help your teenager through this difficult time. Fortunately, your attorney will know what to do when your teen is charged with a DUI in Illinois. 

If you’re concerned about your child’s future, reach out for help from the attorneys at Chicago Trusted Attorneys™. An underage DUI conviction can come with harsh penalties, so reach out and help your child get the right lawyer. To learn more about our services, call 312-519-3171 or complete the online form below. 

Courthouses in the Chicago Area

Courthouses in the Chicago Area

If you’ve been summoned to court, it’s important to know where you’re going. Failure to appear in the right courthouse could land you in serious trouble. The problem is, there are plenty of courthouses in the Chicago area to choose from. 

If you’re heading to court soon, talk to your defense lawyer about your case. They can help you find the right courthouse and to face your case while there.

Bridgeview, Illinois, Courthouse

Bridgeview Courthouse covers the legal disputes within much of southwestern Cook County. This court oversees hearings for civil claims, marriages, misdemeanor hearings, and some preliminary felony hearings. 

Cook County Criminal Court

This courthouse hears felony trials for Cook County. If you’re a Chicago resident, or a resident of a nearby town, you may need to appear in this court if you’re on trial for a felony

Cook County Criminal Court in Chicago, IL

Chicago’s Cook County Criminal Court, also called George N. Leighton Criminal Courthouse, oversees serious criminal cases that happen in Chicago and Cook County at large. That includes cases like armed robbery, murder, and criminal sexual assault. Keep in mind that certain cases on sexual assault and domestic violence may be seen in a different courthouse, so check with your Chicago defense attorney before making the drive. 

Daley Center Courthouse

The Richard J. Daley Center is the Circuit Court of Cook County. This court can hear most trials and decide most cases brought forward. If you’re not sure your case will be seen here, talk to your Chicago area trial lawyer about your case. 

Domestic Violence Court in Chicago

The Domestic Violence Courthouse oversees many domestic violence cases in Chicago, and it’s built with victims in mind. There are victims-only elevators available, as well as secured waiting rooms and childcare areas. You may even request a tour of the courthouse before your trial.

DuPage County Courthouse

This courthouse oversees the claims and cases brought forward in DuPage County. That includes small claims, adoption information, traffic court, and expungement options.

Maywood, IL, Courthouse

The Maywood Courthouse is also the Fourth Municipal District Court in Illinois. This courthouse oversees many case types, from civil lawsuits and small claims to marriage and civil union court. This courthouse may also oversee misdemeanor trials and felony preliminary hearings. Felony cases are typically handled in other courts. 

Rolling Meadows Courthouse

Rolling Meadows Courthouse is the Third Municipal District Court in Illinois. This court handles many of the civil lawsuits and family law cases in the northwestern towns of Cook County. Keep in mind that this court does not handle probate cases. 

Skokie Courthouse

The Skokie Courthouse covers cases in the Second Municipal District in Illinois. This court sees many criminal and traffic cases. While most felony hearings are handled by other courts, this courthouse does see most misdemeanors and petty crimes, as well as probation hearings, domestic violence hearings, and bond court. 

Contact a Chicago Defense Attorney before Heading to Court

If you’re dealing with a legal dispute, make sure you know what courthouse you’re heading to by talking to your attorney. A Chicago trial lawyer from Chicago Trusted Attorneys™ can make sure you end up in the right place on the right date, with all the evidence you need to make a case for reducing or dismissing your charges. 

To get to the right place and fight back for your future, call 312-519-3171 or complete the online form below. 

Arrested for DUI but Not Drunk? You Can Fight Back

Arrested for DUI but Not Drunk? You Can Fight Back

An arrest is already an embarrassing situation, and to be arrested for drinking and driving can feel even worse. You’re now in serious trouble, and that can affect your future. The problem is, you might not have even been drunk. 

If you were arrested for a DUI but were not drunk, you can fight back against these charges. Officers can make mistakes, but if you don’t fight back, those mistakes can hurt you for years to come. Fortunately, you have a chance to fight your charges and protect your future. Reach out now if you’re struggling with your case and with proving you hadn’t been drinking. 

Proving You Weren’t Drunk

If you’re pulled over, especially at night, the police officer might already be looking for signs that you were drinking. They might have pulled you over for suspicious behavior, like weaving between lanes or failing to signal, but physical signs might be included in the report. Bloodshot eyes, the smell of alcohol, and slurred speech could all be signs of intoxication

However, those signs don’t mean you were drunk. Health conditions could cause all these symptoms, and a police officer might not recognize that. Your Illinois attorney, however, may be able to use evidence of an illness in your favor.

Keep in mind, too, that the sobriety test you take may be the key to fighting your DUI. If your blood alcohol concentration, or BAC, level was below the legal limit, you may have the evidence you need to show that you shouldn’t have been arrested. 

Your DUI Trial

Once you have the evidence that you weren’t drunk, it’s time to start fighting back. You should have a chance to face the arresting officer in court to defend yourself against these charges. 

However, it’s important that you have a DUI lawyer on your side. When you choose to fight your charges on your own, you might have access to the information you need, but it’s still your word against the arresting officer’s. Sadly, that means that it can still be tough to avoid a DUI, even if you weren’t drunk. 

If your future is on the line, it’s best not to take chances. You could lose your license, face incarceration and fines, and suffer major penalties to your insurance. Affording insurance might even be impossible after your case if you don’t have someone on your side to gather evidence and argue for your future. 

Contact a DUI Lawyer to Fight Back

False allegations of a DUI can upset your life in a lot of ways. You weren’t even drinking or weren’t over the legal BAC limit, but now you’re in serious trouble. The best way to fight your charges may mean getting a lawyer from Chicago Trusted Attorneys™ to defend you. 

If you were arrested for a DUI but weren’t drunk, you can fight back, but that can be tough on your own. Instead, you can reach out for help from an Illinois DUI lawyer. If you’ve been charged with driving while under the influence, you’ll need someone on your side to help you recover, so make sure you have the right guidance on your defense team

If you’ve been unfairly stopped and arrested, reach out for help from an attorney, starting with a consultation about your case. Reach out by calling 312-519-3171 or by completing the online form below.