The Polinske & Associates Edwardsville Legal Blog

We were able to get a DUI reduced to Reckless Driving this week in St. Clair County. It was our clients second DUI, so he was facing a DUI conviction and subsequently a revocation of his drivers license. Several companion traffic citations will be dismissed per plea.

We obtained a great outcome for a client at his sentencing hearing last week in Madison County. Our client was looking at prison time for two felony charges, both offenses related to motor vehicles. Since he was extended term eligible, he was facing 7-14 years in prison. The court sentenced him to probation, which he was very happy with.

We were able to negotiate an Unlawful Possession of Weapons by a Felon down to a misdemeanor Disorderly Conduct charge. The original charge was a class 3 felony, punishable by 2-10 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Needless to say, we are all very happy with the outcome.

Domestic Violence defense

Two DUI Statutory Summary Suspension Rescission's this week

When a person is stopped for suspicion of DUI should they submit to a request to perform field tests?

As of January 1, 2025 all police departments must have body cam video of most incidents.

Now that the SAFE-T act has been implemented for two years we can see some severe problems with the act.

Illinois Supreme Court has recently held that the scent of burnt cannabis does not allow for a warrantless search of a vehicle.

Now that the SAFE-T Act has been in effect since 9/18/23 the changes its has implemented are stark

Major changes to criminal procedure and law will take effect on January 1, 2023

As of October 1, 2021 a defendant has a right to a speedy trial per statute

The Illinois Supreme Court had temporarily suspended a defendant's right to a speedy trial at the beginning of the COVID pandemic. Their order waiving the speedy trial right expired October 1, 2021

In Illinois all speedy trial rights have been suspended during the pandemic. Should this be the case?

The Illinois State Police are Conducting a Saturation Patrol (DUI enforcement weekend) 8-28-2020

Now that the law has changed in Illinois to allow recreational usage of marijuana, what does the law allow?

Riley v. California Requires Police to Obtain a Search Warrant Prior to Viewing/Analyzing Data on Cellular/Digital Devices

Cannabis Based DUI Arrestees now have a Scientific Based Threshold that Must be Crossed

Crossbow Hunting Allowed Beginning in October 2017

House Bill Passed. Burden of Proof will be Changed Once the Governor Signs the Bill