Chicago Criminal Lawyer Blog
Police officers in Chicago and throughout Illinois are trained to identify certain behaviors and driving patterns that, in their view, may suggest that a driver is under the influence of alcohol or drugs. These signs—however minor or subjective—can form the basis for a traffic stop under Illinois law. Once that stop occurs, it can escalate quickly into an arrest, formal criminal charges, and life-altering consequences.
At The Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, our DUI defense lawyer in Chicago understands how DUI arrests unfold in the real world and how law enforcement builds its case. What’s often overlooked by many drivers is that the entire criminal prosecution rests on whether the original stop was legally justified. That means if the officer didn’t have lawful grounds to pull you over, then any evidence obtained afterward may be inadmissible in court.
This article will explain what officers in Chicago typically claim to observe to justify a DUI stop, how those observations are challenged in court, and why having an experienced criminal defense lawyer is critical from the moment your case begins.
