Here Are The Top 5 Tips To Keep In Mind This Fourth of July

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1.  Remember DUI Checkpoints are everywhere!  The Chicago Police and the Illinois State Police plan to assign additional patrol units to the streets.  Beware of additional checkpoints with officers on the lookout for drunk drivers and law violators.  Also, July 4th is one of the deadliest holidays of the year.  Last year there were 58 fatalities in Illinois over the Independence Day weekend, almost half of which were attributed to drunken driving.  See the Illinois Department of Transportation Press Release: “Illinois Law Enforcement to Crack Down on Drunk, Unbuckled Drivers this 4th of July Travel Weekend.”

2.  Remember all of the new and old traffic laws including:

• Julie’s Law which prohibits judges from ordering court supervision for drivers who were issued a ticket for exceeding the speed limit by more than 25 miles in a residential urban district, or by more than 30 miles in a rural area.
• No Cellphone/Texting Law which makes it a violation to use a cellphone (call or text) behind the wheel.  Cell phone use must be “Hands Free.”
• Don’t throw your cigarette out the window!  As of January 1, 2014, cigarettes are considered litter.  Potential penalties for littering include: a Class B misdemeanor and a fine up to $1500 for a first time conviction, a Class A misdemeanor and a fine up to $1500 for a second conviction, and three or more convictions carries a Class 4 charge and a fine up to $25,000!

3. Wear your seatbelt when driving and watch out for cameras!  School buses now have cameras on them to capture any driver who illegally passes by them at a stop.  Beware of red-light cameras and speed cameras both downtown and throughout the suburbs.

4.  Parents and kids: Remember the Curfew!  In Illinois, a child under the age of 17 violates curfew when he or she lingers or stays in a public place or even a private business during curfew hours.  Curfew hours are from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 12:01 a.m. to 6 a.m. Saturday and Sunday mornings.  Violating curfew is a petty offense carrying hefty fines ranging anywhere from $500 to $750 depending on location and a judge can hold the parent liable and order the parent to perform community service.

5.  Have Fun!  We at the Law Offices of Laura J. Morask love celebrating the Fourth of July and hope you do too!  Some of us will be up in the north woods, some will be barbequing, and Laura will be marching in the City of DesPlaines Independence Day Parade with the Maine Township Trustees!  Grab the kids, grab you friends and come out to celebrate the Fourth of July at this wonderful event, and look for Laura on Float #44.  She will give you extra candy!

If you are arrested for DUI call an experienced and knowledgeable attorney as soon as possible.  We here at the Law Offices of Laura Morask are well versed and experienced in the ever expanding and increasingly stricter body of DUI law, so please call for a free consultation.