Northern Illinois Criminal Defense And Real Estate Law Blog

A fatal car accident yielded criminal charges for the driver allegedly responsible for the collision. Police arrested the man on two counts for aggravated DUI involving a death and on another two counts for aggravated DUI with a revoked or suspended licenses. Both of these are Class 2 felonies in Illinois.

The accident in question occurred back in Dec. 2018, when police say the 41-year-old was driving his vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. On Dec. 18, shortly before 6:30 p.m., he allegedly drifted across the center line and into the path of oncoming traffic. He hit a van head-on, causing it to hit a third nearby vehicle. The 32-year-old driver of the van survived the wreck but required treatment at an area hospital, and his 41-year-old passenger suffered fatal injuries. The driver accused of causing the wreck was also injured, but the driver of the third vehicle was not.

Receiving a traffic ticket might seem like a minor inconvenience, but it can be a much bigger problem, depending on the situation. For some Illinois drivers, it might make sense to fight charges for traffic offenses, especially those that come with hefty fines, such as for speeding or reckless driving. However, drivers should carefully consider both the benefits and drawbacks of fighting traffic tickets.

Many police officers do not fully understand the details of the laws they believe they are enforcing. Because of this, many officers issue tickets for nonexistent problems or even initiate unjustified traffic stops. A ticketed driver may want to carefully examine the law that he or she is accused of violating, as this may reveal that a ticket was not warranted. Better understanding that law can also help demonstrate a driver's assertion in court.

Finding the right commercial space in an ideal location is an important part of owning a business in Illinois. However, securing that perfect space is often more complicated than it appears. Business owners need to understand how to negotiate a lease when dealing with commercial real estate in order to secure a favorable outcome.

Unlike residential leases, commercial leases usually have much more leeway when it comes to the terms of the agreement. Negotiating over those terms is usually a given, but a business owner may find that the property owner's situation can affect the outcome. For example, if a property owner has a mostly vacant building or business park, he or she could be more willing to make allowances. A property owner that has a recently vacated premium space or who is located in a hot rental market may have more control over where the negotiations lead.

It’s much ado about nothing, right? Just how serious can the downside be relevant to a traffic citation in Illinois?

Many motorists in Northern Illinois and elsewhere across the state routinely find out in a hurry just how dire the consequences can be following their receipt of a ticket for a driving-related infraction.