Heed the Stricter Illinois DUI Laws This Holiday! By Martin LaScola As the holiday season is upon us and drinking and making merry become more frequent, be aware that Illinois is known for its strict DUI laws. This year they became even more stringent with the passing of several new laws that are downright sobering!

 Moving Violations That Can Land You in Jail By Martin Lascola  We’ve all heard of getting traffic tickets when you’re accused of violating the rules on the road, but are there moving violations that can land you in jail? It can happen in Illinois, especially when it comes to repeat violations. Whether you’re 18 or

TEEN OPIODS: MYTHS THEY BELIEVE By Martin LaScola As any parent will tell you, raising a teenager and keeping them safe can be difficult, especially when teen opioid myths abound. Teens often do not know all the facts about their risk-taking behaviors. Opioid abuse has been in the news lately and for good reason. The

New Illinois Criminal Laws By Martin LaScola  As the new year rolled in, so did enactment of many new Illinois criminal laws. In general, we can see trends towards more confidential recordkeeping, heavier penalties for haters, and consideration for our prisons. Here’s some highlights of the new Illinois criminal laws that we are most likely

What Should You Do if Pulled Over for a Possible DUI? By: Martin LaScola It’s the holiday season and it is time to celebrate, which means you need to know what to do if you are pulled over for suspicion of DUI. To celebrate responsibly, you may first wish to check out what constitutes a

FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND – A DEADLY WEEKEND FOR DUIs  By Martin LaScola Though many people don’t realize it, we are in one of the most dangerous times on the road when it comes to DUIs— the Fourth of July holiday!  It’s true that Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s see their share of drunk drivers,

Surprising New 2017 Illinois Laws The new year brought many new 2017 Illinois laws into effect for renters, motorists, practitioners and those with criminal records. Here’s a wrap up of some of them. New 2017 Illinois Laws  For Renters and Motorists   Senate Bill 1120 applies to those who rent property or equipment more than

SHOPLIFTING CHARGES: A PARENT’S GUIDE By Martin LaScola When a teen takes or attempts to remove items from a store without paying and is caught, they may face shoplifting charges, which are referred to as “retail theft” offenses in the various circuit courts throughout Illinois.  Teens recklessly engage in this behavior when someone dares them,

Busting the Myths of Juvenile Crime By Martin LaScola Summertime is the time when our children and young adults have a little more time on their hands and as the saying goes, idle hands are the devil’s playground, which can translate to juvenile arrest. Young people can accidentally find themselves on the wrong side of

The latest Illinois DUI law, Senate Bill 627, was signed into law last May and took effect on January 1. This law eliminates “hard time” mandatory license suspensions for drunk drivers, and instead allows them to immediately apply for and drive with a BAIID (breathing ignition interlock device) installed on their vehicle. The BAIID prevents

On January 1, 2016, a new law took effect that offers immunity to underage drinkers who call 911 for medical assistance after they or their friend has had too much to drink. The law is designed to make it easier for teens to place an emergency call, in hopes of reducing the number of alcohol-related

An encounter with a member of law enforcement can be a terribly intimidating experience. When people are being investigated by the police, their knee-jerk reaction is usually to do exactly what they say in order to avoid further trouble. In some instances, this may be prudent. Other times, it can be the biggest mistake of

There’s no law yet against teens texting at the dinner table, but there is for teens texting on the road in Illinois. Every teen on the road should be aware of the new laws …

Holders of Commercial Drivers Licenses (CDLs), including truck and bus drivers, are held to a higher level of responsibility on the road than the average driver…

As of January 1, 2014, a new law is in effect that classifies speeding more than 35 mph in excess of the posted limit as a Class A Misdemeanor charge. This is a reduction of the previous …