Southern Illinois Criminal Defense Blog

Reasons driver’s licenses get suspended or revoked in Illinois

On behalf of Tom Speedie, Attorney at Law, P.C. posted in blog on Monday, April 23, 2018.

If you’re a driver in Illinois, just remember to follow the traffic laws as well as other non-driving related laws. If you don’t, you just may lose your driving privileges whether through a license suspension or revocation.

There’s a big difference between having a license suspended and having one revoked. For the former, there is an end date. But if your license is revoked, you’ve lost your driving privileges indefinitely. If your license has been revoked, you cannot apply for a new license for at least a year.

Drug charges ringed up by feds against 3 men for selling K2

On behalf of Tom Speedie, Attorney at Law, P.C. posted in drug charges on Thursday, April 5, 2018.

Illinois has recently been afflicted with an epidemic of injuries and two deaths from a drug identified as synthetic marijuana and popularly called K2. Federal agents in the state arrested three men on drug charges, saying that they sold them the drug at their mini mart convenience store on Chicago's West Side. The packages sold in the store were labeled with names like "Matrix," "Crazy Monkey," and "Blue Giant," according to federal agents.

About 60 injuries have been reported by public health officials. The drug, which is alleged to be laced with a toxic substance found in rat poison, causes users to bleed profusely from the eyes, nose and mouth. The suspects are accused of selling 50 to 60 packets per day of the drug from their store. Agents allege that one of the men was found in possession of $280,000 in cash.

Illinois tobacco store owner facing drug charges

On behalf of Tom Speedie, Attorney at Law, P.C. posted in drug charges on Thursday, March 29, 2018.

Authorities say a tobacco store owner was selling way more than tobacco. The situation led to a man's arrest. He is now facing felony drug charges in Illinois.

The man owned a tobacco shop. Authorities received information that the man was selling illegal things in his shop. Officers searched the premises, later saying they found more than $2,000 in cash and a lot of marijuana. Although some states have completely decriminalized pot, possession of it is still illegal in this state. Federal and state laws often conflict where marijuana is concerned; however, federal law always supercedes state law if the matter of jurisdiction comes into question.

Illinois man faces drunk driving charges

On behalf of Tom Speedie, Attorney at Law, P.C. posted in drunk driving on Wednesday, March 21, 2018.

A man in La Salle is facing serious charges after he allegedly crashed his vehicle the night of March 16. The 31-year-old man was arrested by Illinois State Police under suspicion of drunk driving. Authorities have not announced a court date at this time, but it has been confirmed that he has been released from police custody.

According to the limited information available as of this report, around 11:31 p.m. the man was driving eastbound in Starved Rock State Park when, for reasons that are not yet clear, his vehicle left the road. It then struck a wood sign before overturning on an embankment. The extent of his injuries was unclear, but he was transported to a local hospital and later released.

Men facing drug charges after search of home

On behalf of Tom Speedie, Attorney at Law, P.C. posted in drug charges on Wednesday, March 14, 2018.

Traffic stops are made frequently all across the state throughout every day by Illinois police officers. While many drivers receive warnings, others may be ticketed for running red lights, not stopping at stop signs or speeding. One Forsyth man now faces drug charges after what started as a routine traffic stop.

According to reports, a 29-year-old man had been pulled over by police for an unspecified violation. For reasons unknown, the officers escorted the man back to his home. At that time, a warrant was executed and the man's home was searched by detectives from Decatur and Macon County. Officers allegedly discovered cocaine, marijuana and some cash during their investigation.

What happens to my license if it is suspended or revoked?

On behalf of Tom Speedie, Attorney at Law, P.C. posted in blog on Sunday, March 11, 2018.

After being charged with a DUI, there is some uncertainty about what your driving capabilities will be. Depending on the level of the offense, your license may be suspended or revoked.

If you’ve never been arrested for a DUI before, the difference between a license suspension or revocation may be completely foreign to you. It’s important to understand how both work and when they can affect you.

Man faces charges of drunk driving

On behalf of Tom Speedie, Attorney at Law, P.C. posted in drunk driving on Friday, March 9, 2018.

Being convicted of DUI charges and spending some time in jail would be considered significant events for most Illinois residents. In fact, most people would not want to go through that experience again and may even vow to not repeat it. However, a Washington Park man has been arrested for alleged drunk driving, making it the third time he has faced DUI charges.

According to the St. Clair County Sheriff's Department, a 37-year-old man was stopped by officers when they suspected him of speeding. He was given a field sobriety test, where he showed a level of 0.115. The legal limit is .08. Upon his arrest, officers apparently discovered that his license had been revoked in conjunction with a prior DUI conviction. Evidently, the man was also facing a bank robbery charge for an incident in 2017.

Man facing drug charges after crashing into police car

On behalf of Tom Speedie, Attorney at Law, P.C. posted in drug charges on Thursday, March 1, 2018.

Some individuals from Illinois and other parts of the country use marijuana to experience the euphoric effects it is known for. However, the substance can also alter a person's coordination and response time. A man allegedly under the influence of marijuana is facing drug charges after a recent accident in Orland Park.

A 36-year-old man from another state crashed into the back of a police squad car as they were traveling east on a city street, according to reports from the Orland Park Police Department. The driver was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries, where he was treated and released. The officers involved in the incident also received treatment at the hospital for injuries not thought to be life-threatening.

East Chicago man facing drug charges following search of car

On behalf of Tom Speedie, Attorney at Law, P.C. posted in drug charges on Thursday, February 22, 2018.

Law enforcement officials routinely receive information from a variety of sources in Illinois. They follow up on the tips given and, in some situations, make arrests following their investigations. Recently, a man was arrested in East Chicago on drug charges after police allegedly discovered marijuana in his car.

According to police, residents of an apartment complex had complained about a marijuana odor coming from one of the units in the building. Officers discovered that there was a truck registered to an occupant of the unit in question parked outside. During their investigation, police evidently saw a man take a backpack from the truck, then leave the complex in another vehicle.

3 men facing drug charges following traffic stop

On behalf of Tom Speedie, Attorney at Law, P.C. posted in drug charges on Tuesday, February 13, 2018.

Law enforcement agencies in Illinois and elsewhere around the nation frequently work together to investigate supposed drug operations. Some of these investigations may span several months or even years. Three men currently face several drug charges following a multi-agency operation in Christian County.

According to the Christian County Sheriff's Office, a 22-year-old man and two 25-year-old men were arrested on drug trafficking charges. The men were evidently under surveillance by the Central Illinois Enforcement Group, a task force comprised of numerous agencies. When the men were stopped for a traffic violation, officers allegedly discovered methamphetamine in their car. Reports show that over half a pound, 259 grams, of meth was seized during the stop.