Uncategorized

Being arrested for driving under the influence is no small matter, and each instance is a bit different from the next. One thing all DUI cases have in common though, is the question, “What’s next?” It’s an important question to ask, given the potential consequences, but it’s not always easy to find answers without help.

For an optimal outcome following a DUI arrest, invest in a law firm that focuses in such cases. The ways in which a DUI legal practitioner benefits clients are numerous and in these situations it pays to be informed of how they can help.

How Can a DUI Legal practitioner Help Me?

A search for “lawyers in Arlington Heights” will surely prompt a number of results. However, not all attorneys are the same. A family attorney or general criminal defense lawyer may be able to defend you, but without up-to-date knowledge on DUI related regulations and procedures, their services may fall short. A knowledgeable local attorney for DUI knows the best ways to defend your case. When there’s a potential for a maximum sentence of 364 days of imprisonment, in the case of a misdemeanor DUI, or permanent loss of your driver’s license, it’s essential to have a skilled and knowledgeable attorney handling DUI cases on your side.

More than just representation, having an attorney for DUI as counsel ensures that you’ll know all possible options and outcomes. Although individual situations will vary, DUI legal teams have seen many similar cases and know exactly where each option leads. While preparing your case, you’ll have access to your lawyer’s expertise and can discuss with them any concerns you might have. The peace of mind knowing there are more choices than just taking a plea or going to trial goes a long way.

If you’re still asking yourself, “what’s next?” and are unsure about hiring an attorney, just consider a simple next step. Contact The Jordan Law Firm for a free consultation so you can explore the right option for you. All you need to do is schedule an appointment and we can help you understand your choices.

It’s just a speeding ticket, right? I can’t go to jail for speeding, I just pay the ticket and slow down, right? This is not necessarily true in all speeding ticket cases. When most people think of a speeding ticket, they don’t think they could go to jail or get a criminal record. Illinois has very tough laws against speeding that could not only result in an increase in your insurance premiums if convicted but also in a criminal record and jail time. Because of these reasons, it is extremely important that you consult with a lawyer experienced in handling speeding tickets to help keep you out of jail and keep your criminal record clear.

When can you go to jail for a speeding ticket? Arlington Heights attorney for traffic legal matters Anisa Jordan typically sees people charged with three types of speeding tickets that could result in possible jail time if convicted.

The most common are Aggravated Speeding law under 625 ILCS 5/11-601.5

Illinois Speeding Tickets: Police Officer with Radar Gun

Under section (a) of 625 ILCS 5/11-601.5 a speeding ticket for speeding 26-34 MPH over the speed limit on any highway in this state is a Class B Misdemeanor. This means that if you are found guilty you could go to jail for up to six months and pay up to $1,500 dollars in court fines and fees.

Under section (b) of 625 ILCS 5/11-601.5 a speeding ticket for speeding 35 MPH or more over the speed limit on any highway in Illinois is a Class A Misdemeanor. This means that if you are found guilty you could go to jail for up to 364 days and pay up to $2,500 in court fines and fees.

Another common speeding ticket is under the Aggravated Special Speed Limit for speeding above the speed limit in a highway construction or maintenance speed zone under 625 ILCS 605.1(d-5).

Under section (d-5)(1) a ticket for speeding 26-34 MPH over the limit in a highway construction or maintenance speed zone is a Class B misdemeanor. If you are found guilty you could go to jail for up to six months and pay up to $1,500 dollars in court fines and fees.

Under section (d-5)(2) a ticket for speeding 35 MPH or more over the limit in a highway construction or maintenance speed zone is a Class A misdemeanor. If you are convicted you could go to jail for up to 364 days and pay up to $2,500 in court fines and fees.

Lastly, The Jordan Law Firm sees tickets for speeding in a school zone under the Aggravated Special Speed Limit law, 625 ILCS 5/11-605(e-5).

Under section (e-5)(1) a speeding ticket for speeding 26-34 MPH over the speed limit while passing a school zone is a Class B misdemeanor with a possible sentence of six months in jail and up to $1,500 dollars in court fines and fees if you are convicted.

Under section (e-5)(2) a speeding ticket for speeding 35 MPH or more over the speed limit while passing a school zone is a Class A misdemeanor with a possible sentence of 364 days in jail and up to $2,500 in court fines and fees if you are convicted.

Beyond the possibility of going to jail for a speeding ticket there are a number of other nuances that can make a speeding ticket not so simple. For example, if you are convicted of excessive speeding in a highway construction or maintenance speed zone a second time within two years, the Illinois Secretary of State could suspend your driver’s license for 3 months. In some cases, even if you can avoid jail time, you may still end up with a criminal record because of mandatory sentencing laws with respect to some speeding ticket charges.

Therefore, if you have a speeding ticket, it is important that you speak to an experienced lawyer to evaluate the facts of your specific case to determine the best course of action to defend against the speeding ticket you have received.

If you have a speeding ticket and don’t know your next step, contact Arlington Heights lawyer Anisa Jordan at The Jordan Law Firm for a free evaluation of your speeding ticket case. The Jordan Law Firm defends against speeding tickets throughout Chicago, Arlington Heights, Rolling Meadows, Schaumburg and all of the surrounding suburbs including Kane, DuPage, and Lake Counties.

Communication of information in this blog is intended for informational purposes only and may not reflect the most current legal developments. Your use of this information does not form an attorney client relationship and it is not intended to convey or constitute legal advice. You should not act on this information without obtaining legal advice from an attorney licensed in your jurisdiction.

Anisa Jordan, The Jordan Law Firm

Anisa Jordan, of The Jordan Law Firm, in Arlington Heights, has been appointed as a member of the Traffic Laws & Courts Section Council of the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA).
The 33,000-member association, with offices in Springfield and Chicago, provides professional services to Illinois lawyers, and education and services to the public.
“Committee and section council members take time from their busy schedules to help their profession while continuing to serve the needs of their clients,” said Vincent F. Cornelius, of Joliet, ISBA President for 2016-2017. “These lawyers play a key role in helping the bar association serve its members and the public.”

Committees have the responsibility for specific programs and activities in such areas as professional ethics and delivery of legal services. Sections provide continuing education and legislative services to lawyers who practice in a specific area of law. Each section is governed by a council appointed by the state bar president. Judges and non-lawyers also serve on committees and section councils.
Anisa Jordan received her B.A. from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2003 and her J.D. from DePaul University College of Law in 2009.

I have been arrested for a DUI in Chicago or the surrounding suburbs. Can I still drive after being arrested for DUI? Will my driver’s license be suspended for DUI? These questions are some of the first people ask themselves after being arrested for DUI. If you are arrested for a DUI in Chicago or anywhere throughout Illinois your driver’s license will be suspended. The length of the suspension depends upon two primary factors. The first is whether you agree to submit to chemical testing (for example a breathalyzer). The second depends on whether you are a first time offender. The basic scenarios are:

1.  If this is your first arrest for DUI, and you submit to chemical testing and are above the legal limit of .08, your driver’s license will be suspended for a minimum of six months.

2.  If this is your first arrest for DUI, and you do not submit to chemical testing  your driver’s license will be suspended for a minimum of twelve months.

3.  If this is not your first arrest for DUI, and you submit to chemical testing, and you are above the legal limit of .08, your driver’s license will be suspended for a minimum of one year.

4.  If this is not  your first arrest for DUI, and you refuse to submit to chemical testing, your driver’s license will be suspended for a minimum of three years.

Contact Us

It should be noted that this is a general guideline regarding the suspension of your driver’s license if you are arrested for DUI and does not include every possible scenario. For example, under Illinois’ zero tolerance policy, if you are under the age of 21 at the time of your DUI arrest, any amount of alcohol registered in your system will result in a suspension of your driver’s license. Additionally, whether you qualify as a first offender is very specific under Illinois law. Therefore, if you are arrested for DUI, it is important that you speak to a DUI legal practitioner to evaluate the facts of your specific case.

Communication of information in this blog is intended for informational purposes only and may not reflect the most current legal developments. Your use of this information does not form an attorney client relationship and it is not intended to convey or constitute legal advice. You should not act on this information without obtaining legal advice from an attorney licensed in your jurisdiction.