January 22, 2026

What You Need to Know When Police or Federal Agents Show Up at Your Job or Home in Chicago

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

Can Law Enforcement Question You Without Arresting You?

This is a question I’ve answered hundreds of times over the years: Can police—or federal agents—question me at my job or home if I haven’t been arrested? In Chicago, the answer is yes, they can. But just because they can, doesn’t mean you have to answer them.

It’s common for people in the Chicago area to get approached by CPD detectives, FBI agents, or other investigators without warning. These encounters often happen at work, outside your house, or even inside your home if you allow them in. The officers may act polite, friendly, and make the conversation feel informal. But understand this: you may already be under investigation, and the goal of that “friendly conversation” is often to gather evidence before you lawyer up.

January 21, 2026

Can I Stay Silent During a Traffic Stop in Chicago?

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

Knowing When Silence is Smarter Than Speaking

Chicago police make traffic stops every day. Sometimes it’s for speeding on Lake Shore Drive, other times it’s rolling through a stop sign in Pilsen. For many drivers, that brief encounter with an officer feels routine—until it isn’t. When flashing lights appear in the rearview mirror, people often forget they still have rights. One of the most misunderstood of these rights is the right to remain silent. The question I get all the time is: “Do I have to talk to the officer?”

As a Chicago criminal defense lawyer, I tell clients that what you say during a stop can change the entire outcome of your case. Most people don’t realize how much legal damage they do by trying to talk their way out of trouble. The simple truth is, aside from handing over your driver’s license, proof of insurance, and vehicle registration, you don’t have to say a word. And in many situations, saying nothing is exactly what protects you the most.

January 20, 2026

What Are Your Rights When Chicago Police Ask to Search Your Car?

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

The Truth About Saying “No” to a Vehicle Search During a Traffic Stop in Chicago

If you’ve ever been pulled over by police in Chicago, you may have found yourself in an uncomfortable position—facing a uniformed officer asking, “Mind if I search your car?” In that moment, many drivers say yes without really thinking it through. Maybe they don’t want to seem confrontational. Maybe they think refusing will make them look guilty. Or maybe they didn’t know they had the right to say no.

As a Chicago criminal defense attorney, I’ve represented countless clients who were charged with crimes after a traffic stop led to a car search. What most of them had in common is that they gave police permission—knowingly or not—to conduct that search. And once that happens, much of your legal protection is gone.

January 18, 2026

Arrested in Chicago? Here’s How Long Police Can Legally Hold You Without Charges

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

Understanding Your Rights After an Arrest in Illinois

Being arrested is one of the most frightening experiences a person can face. Whether it happens on the street in Bronzeville, during a traffic stop in Rogers Park, or as part of a federal investigation downtown, the fear and confusion are immediate—and one of the first questions people ask is, “How long can the police keep me here without charging me?”

As a longtime Chicago criminal defense lawyer and federal defense attorney, I’ve seen this question come up hundreds of times. The truth is that Illinois law, federal law, and constitutional protections work together to limit how long you can be held without formal charges. But those rules only help you if you understand them—and if you have legal counsel to enforce them.

January 17, 2026

Arrested in Chicago? What to Expect at Your Bond Hearing in Illinois Criminal Court

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

Why the Bond Hearing Is the First Test in Any Criminal Case

Most people don’t realize how fast things move after an arrest in Chicago. One minute, someone is in the back of a squad car. The next, they’re standing before a judge while a prosecutor reads through their charges. What happens in those first 24 to 48 hours can determine whether someone goes home—or gets stuck in jail for weeks or months while the case moves through the system.

The bond hearing is not just a formality. It’s a critical step in the Illinois criminal justice process, and the outcome can influence everything that follows.

January 16, 2026

What Should I Do if the DuPage County Sheriff’s Department Wants to Question Me?

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

Why You Should Be Careful Before Talking to Police in DuPage County

If a DuPage County police officer, sheriff’s deputy, or detective reaches out and wants to question you about an incident, load your next steps with caution and understanding. Law enforcement officers in DuPage County—whether from Wheaton, Naperville, Downers Grove, or anywhere within the county—have one overriding goal when they approach someone: gather information that can be used to support a possible arrest or criminal charge. As a DuPage County criminal defense lawyer with decades of experience defending people accused of state and federal crimes, I can tell you that answering questions without proper legal protection can be the most damaging mistake you make.

In Illinois, crimes are classified as either misdemeanors or felonies. Misdemeanors include offenses like simple battery, disorderly conduct, DUI without aggravating factors, retail theft below a certain threshold, or cannabis possession. Felonies are more serious and include drug trafficking, felony theft, aggravated assault, weapons violations, and financial crimes. Whether the offense is a misdemeanor or a felony, what you say to police can influence whether charges are filed at all and what level they reach.

January 15, 2026

Can Chicago Police Use a Drug Dog After You Refuse a Search?

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

Can Chicago Police Use a Drug Dog After You Refuse a Search?

Understanding Your Rights When Refusing a Search in Chicago

I’ve represented clients in every part of Chicago—from Rogers Park to Roseland—who thought that refusing a police search would protect them. They assumed that once they said “no,” the police had to let them go. Then a K‑9 unit showed up. Suddenly, their car was being searched anyway.

January 14, 2026

How Long Can Chicago Police Hold You at a Traffic Stop Waiting for a K‑9 Unit?

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

Police K‑9 Delays and Your Rights During Chicago Traffic Stops

If you were pulled over in Chicago and the officer kept you waiting on the roadside while calling in a drug-sniffing dog, you probably asked yourself the same question many of my clients ask me: “Can they really hold me this long without charging me?” As a Chicago criminal defense lawyer who has fought hundreds of traffic stop cases, I can tell you this: if police held you longer than necessary without clear legal justification, they may have violated your constitutional rights.

Dog sniffs during traffic stops have become a common tactic used by police to escalate minor infractions into felony charges. Whether you were stopped in Garfield Ridge, Lincoln Park, or on I-90 near the city limits, the basic facts of the case often look the same: the officer approaches your vehicle, says it’s a routine traffic stop, checks your license, then calls in a K‑9 unit and keeps you waiting—hoping for a positive dog alert to justify a search.

January 13, 2026

What Is Wire Fraud?

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

Federal Charges Explained by a Chicago Criminal Defense Lawyer

Understanding Wire Fraud Charges in Chicago and How Federal Criminal Cases Begin

Chicago is one of the nation’s largest financial, commercial, and technology hubs. With that status comes increased federal scrutiny. Wire fraud charges are frequently prosecuted in the Northern District of Illinois, often involving Chicago residents, business owners, executives, and professionals who never expected to face federal criminal allegations. As a Chicago criminal defense lawyer with decades of experience, I have seen firsthand how wire fraud investigations can unfold quietly and then escalate rapidly into serious felony charges.

January 11, 2026

Refusing a Vehicle Search in Chicago: Are Police Allowed to Keep You Longer?

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

Understanding Roadside Detention in Chicago Traffic Stops

In Chicago, it’s common for traffic stops to turn into full-blown investigations—sometimes without warning and often without legal justification. One of the most common questions I get as a Chicago criminal defense attorney is, “If I refuse a vehicle search, can they just keep me there longer?”

The answer under both Illinois and federal law is no. Refusing to let police search your vehicle is not a crime. It is a constitutional right, and it does not give the officer permission to prolong the stop or detain you beyond the time it takes to issue a citation or warning.