Presumed innocent until proven guilty is the assumption under which Illinois’s criminal justice system operates. In other words, when law enforcement officers detain someone for drunk driving or some other offense, they need to have proof that this is in fact the case prior to detaining them. While this is the case in most instances, one has to wonder if this holds true when the individual who has been stopped has a history of such behavior.
In one recent case, a driver was arrested and charged with DUI for the 16th time. Reports indicate that he has a history of such behavior dating back to the early 1980s. In this case, he was allegedly operating a car while intoxicated. However, details regarding how this determination were made have not been made public. What is known is that members of the Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists have been watching him and his arrest record for several years.
Drunk driving is a serious offense. However, even though someone has a past history of such action, it is possible that the individual’s behavior can change. Just because one was guilty in the past does not mean that he or she is guilty today. Guilt is something that must be determined by the Illinois court based upon the evidence presented.
A drunk driving conviction can have a lasting impact on one’s life. When one finds him of herself facing drunk driving charges, he or she will want an experienced legal team fighting for his or her rights. In addition to reviewing the evidence and the merits of the case, the legal team will develop a strategy designed to reach the best possible outcome.
Source: abc13.com, “Rolling Meadows man faces felony charges for 16th DUI“, John Garcia, April 26, 2018
