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Avoid A Repeat DUI Conviction This Holiday Season

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Will County, IL repeat DUI defense attorneyA 53-year-old Joliet man landed in the Will County Jail after Joliet police said he was pulled over for improper lane usage. The man had a revoked driver’s license for previous DUI arrests. When you are facing possible repeat DUI charges in Illinois, you absolutely must invest in retaining legal counsel as soon as possible.

Prosecutors handling repeat DUI cases are seeking convictions and want to ensure that alleged offenders will be punished accordingly. You will need proven legal help in defending yourself against what are, in many cases, felony charges.

Repeat DUI Penalties in Illinois

The good news is that, so long as a case does not involve any aggravating factors, first and second DUI convictions in Illinois are usually Class A misdemeanors punishable by fines of up to $2,500 and/or up to one year in jail. The problem becomes that a third or fourth DUI offense is a Class 2 felony, a fifth offense is a Class 1 felony, and a sixth or subsequent offense is a Class X felony.

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Dealing with Dog Bites in Will County

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Will County dog bite lawyerWill County is very friendly towards dogs, and the Forest Preserve District of Will County has six dog parks in the county. As much fun as people can have with their dogs, there are cases in which dogs can defy expectations, act aggressively, and bite innocent people.

Dog bites can be incredibly frightening for people to deal with, and it can be very confusing for victims to know how to recover financial compensation for their medical bills and other costs stemming from dog bites. Even if it is difficult, it is important to take certain steps to protect your legal rights following any dog bite.

Proper Steps to Take After a Dog Bite

When you are bitten by a dog, you will need to first focus on your own medical care. Do not hesitate to visit a hospital so you can be confident that you are getting any wound properly treated. In general, try to wash your wound, slow the bleeding with a clean cloth, wrap the wound, and be mindful of signs of infection. 

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Does Crime Increase on Halloween?

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Will County criminal defense attorneyHalloween can be an incredibly fun holiday. Parties are happening everywhere, filled with adults and children alike in costumes they have picked out or made themselves. Wearing a costume can allow a person to assume a sort of alter-ego for the evening. It can be said that the holiday itself invites trouble. Unfortunately, some individuals take the fun too far and find themselves in jail. It is generally true that certain crimes become more common than usual in the time period surrounding Halloween. Property crimes and drunk driving tend to spike during this time period.

It is easy for people celebrating the holiday to be peer-pressured or goaded into doing something that is against the law, especially where alcohol and other substances are involved. If you are among the crowd arrested this Halloween, it is important that you take the situation very seriously. Criminal charges do not go away when the Halloween season ends, and a record could follow you for the rest of your life. 

Crimes Commonly Committed Around Halloween

If you plan to go out and celebrate this Halloween, it is wise to be cautious about who you spend time with and what you get involved with. A spur-of-the-moment decision could leave you with a criminal record that will far, far outlast the fun of causing mischief. Common crimes people are charged with around Halloween include: 

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Joliet drugged driving defense lawyerAdult residents of Illinois are now permitted to possess and use cannabis for medical or recreational purposes. THC products are generally regulated similarly to the manner in which alcohol is regulated. These regulations control how people in Illinois can handle and use cannabis. A few important rules include those governing how cannabis may be transported in a vehicle. Most Illinois residents know that they cannot drive with an open beer or glass of wine in their cupholders, as allowing people to do so would make it very easy for drivers to become intoxicated while behind the wheel. 

Similar open-container rules apply to cannabis. Even if you are not actively under its influence, you could be charged with a misdemeanor drug offense for having open and accessible containers of THC products in your vehicle. You can also be charged with a DUI for driving after using cannabis based on the concentration of THC in your body. If you are charged for possessing cannabis in a vehicle or driving under the influence of cannabis, it is important to secure legal representation as soon as possible. 

Understanding Illinois’ Cannabis Transportation Laws

Certainly, there are legal manners in which an Illinois resident can lawfully transport their legal cannabis products in a vehicle after visiting a licensed dispensary just as there are legal ways to drive home with liquor store purchases. However, the law aims to prevent a situation where people could be using cannabis inside a moving vehicle. A driver who is under the influence of cannabis generally cannot drive safely, as they will likely experience effects such as slowed reaction time. 

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Will County personal injury attorneyMaintaining a vehicle is an important duty of drivers who own their cars. When a vehicle is properly maintained, it is far less likely to experience a critical malfunction in the course of operating it. When a vehicle is improperly maintained, it is far more likely that a mechanical or parts failure will occur in the course of operation. Vehicle malfunctions can cause a driver to lose control of the vehicle, increasing the odds of a collision exponentially.

While accidents stemming from a parts malfunction are sometimes the responsibility of the failed part’s manufacturer, or even the mechanic who installed the part, it is also quite common for the fault to lie with the driver and owner. Drivers often have some form of warning that a breakdown is imminent - rarely do these accidents occur entirely unexpectedly. If you have been injured in a car accident involving a vehicle parts malfunction, you may be entitled to compensation. An attorney can help you decide how best to proceed with a claim. 

Drivers Have a Duty to Maintain Their Vehicles to Prevent an Accident

Drivers very commonly have notice that their vehicle is in need of maintenance. Whether the check engine light is on, an ominous noise can be heard emitting from the engine, or their tire treads have begun to shrink down, a responsible driver would have their vehicle checked by a mechanic to determine whether it is safe to dive or in need of essential maintenance. Not all maintenance concerns render a vehicle unsafe, but the important thing is to discover whether the problem observed is one of them. 

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