Summer is in full swing in Illinois and kids are out of school. For young adults that just graduated high school or are visiting from college for the summer, the freedom can be downright intoxicating. Add literal intoxicants like THC or alcohol, and the mix can sometimes be disastrous. 

Young adults—young men, in particular—generally still do not have a fully developed frontal lobe, which is the part of the brain responsible for making decisions and accurately predicting the consequences of those decisions. When drugs, alcohol, or peer pressure are added to the inevitable lack of maturity and underdeveloped decision-making skills that come with young age, risk-taking behaviors increase. While most activities are relatively harmless—and even those that are harmful are often escaped without causing serious damage—sometimes the consequences of poor decisions require the help of an Illinois criminal defense attorney. 

Certain Types of Crime Are More Common During Summer Months

While men and women, old and young, are all capable of committing criminal acts, certain types of crime tend to be almost exclusively committed by young men. Immaturity may not be an excuse for committing crimes, but it is at least an explanation for many of them. The most common crimes committed by young adults during the summer months include: 

As the Fourth of July approaches, experts are urging families and individuals who plan to use fireworks to use extreme caution when handling these dangerous products. While fireworks may seem harmless, every year tens of thousands of Americans are injured by even the smallest fireworks, including sparklers and snaps or poppers. Practice firework safety this summer season, and if you do sustain an injury because of someone else’s reckless actions, speak with an Illinois personal injury attorney to see if you can take action. 

Common Firework Injuries

There are gruesome videos online demonstrating the explosive force of fireworks on human dummies, allowing skeptics can see just how powerful and dangerous fireworks can be. People frequently sustain serious injuries from fireworks, including: 

• Burns
• Lacerations and cuts
• Open wounds and hemorrhaging 
• Injured facial bones
• Reproductive tissue injuries, especially for males
• Vision and hearing loss
• Concussions and brain injuries 

When Can Someone Recover Damages for a Firework Injury? 

If the person using the firework was negligent or reckless, and their behavior causes you an injury that results in damages, you may be able to bring a legal claim against them. People frequently recover compensation for physical pain and suffering, lost wages, lost quality of life, and medical bills. 

While Illinois has legalized recreational marijuana, there are still boundaries around when and where it can be safely used. Like alcohol, marijuana is an intoxicant that muddles the body and brain’s typical responses to stimuli. Although many people feel as though they can safely drive after ingesting cannabis, research shows that a high driver’s chances of getting into a car accident increase dramatically. However, unlike alcohol, getting a ticket for driving with cannabis in a driver’s bloodstream is complicated because THC can remain in your system for many days after the last time it is used. If you have been pulled over and charged with driving under the influence of marijuana, here are three things you should know before you call an Illinois DUI defense attorney who can help you fight the charges.

Even If an Officer Smells Marijuana, They Cannot Search You Without a Warrant

Previously, Illinois used the so-called “plain smell” rule that allowed officers to search a vehicle without a warrant if he or she claimed to smell marijuana. But after a 2021 circuit court ruling, the smell of marijuana is no longer a probable cause for a warrantless vehicle search. If a police officer says he smells marijuana, you do not need to let him search your car. You also do not need to consent to chemical testing, although refusing a chemical test still might lead to your immediate arrest.

You Can Fail a Drug Test Even If You Are Not High

Because frequent users of cannabis can test positive for THC in their system long after they last used it, chemical tests can suggest a driver was high even if he or she was not. More than 5 nanograms of THC per milliliter of blood can result in a DUI conviction unless the driver is a medical marijuana user, and it can be difficult to fight the prosecutor’s case by claiming you were not high at the time of arrest. 

Even though individuals in Illinois can now purchase marijuana from licensed dealers, grow up to five plants on private property, and own up to 30 grams of marijuana, it is still illegal to privately sell marijuana or own it with the intent to deliver. Illinois has not relaxed its penalties for drug crimes that involve marijuana, and, if anything, prosecutors tend to go after these cases more harshly now. If you have been charged with unlawful marijuana possession, it is important to take these charges seriously and contact a criminal defense attorney right away. 

Why Is Delivering Marijuana Privately Still Illegal? 

Whether you view the restriction of private marijuana sales as a cynical tax grab or the state of Illinois simply protecting its citizens from unsafe substances, private marijuana sales are still illegal. Even selling a small amount to a friend or possessing an otherwise legal amount with the intent to sell it is illegal. 

How Can Police Prove I Was Planning to Sell Marijuana? 

While you may be tempted to simply argue that you owned the marijuana legally without intending to sell it, the strength of the prosecution’s case against you will depend on what other objects were found with the marijuana. It would be difficult to argue that you were sorting marijuana into small plastic bags weighing exactly an eighth of a gram for your own personal use. Having a drug scale, large amounts of cash in your home, or a person testifying that they were going to buy marijuana from you could also bolster the state’s case. 

You pay taxes on your income, taxes on gas to fill up your car, and even taxes on household essentials. So when you get hit with an expensive traffic ticket that you know is going to fill the coffers of the government even further, it is natural to feel angry and frustrated. Aggressive parking and traffic ticket policies are often initiated to meet quotas and, rather than making the streets of Illinois safer, can instead have a highly detrimental impact on your wallet, ability to drive, and even hold down a job.

Fortunately, you can fight traffic violation tickets with the help of an experienced Illinois traffic ticket defense attorney. Doing so can help you save money and avoid some of the serious consequences of a traffic ticket because you accepted the results without fighting back. 

Why Should I Not Just Pay My Traffic Ticket? 

Paying for your ticket may seem like the easiest and fastest route, but paying for the ticket also means accepting the consequences of the behavior you were ticketed for. These include, but are not limited to: