Chicago Criminal Lawyer Blog
Why Traffic Stops In Chicago Often Lead To More Than A Ticket
A traffic stop in Chicago can move from a citation to a criminal arrest faster than most people expect. A driver may believe the issue is a minor lane violation, speeding allegation, expired registration, cell phone accusation, or equipment problem. Once the officer approaches the vehicle, the situation may change. The officer may begin asking questions about alcohol, cannabis, prescription medication, weapons, warrants, passengers, ownership of the vehicle, or where the driver has been. The driver may not realize that the officer is collecting statements, watching movements, observing physical signs, checking license status, looking for odors, and deciding whether the stop should become a criminal investigation.
This is a common problem in Chicago because traffic enforcement often occurs in busy areas where drivers are already under stress. Stops may happen on the Dan Ryan, the Kennedy, the Eisenhower, Lake Shore Drive, Western Avenue, Cicero Avenue, or neighborhood streets in places such as Avondale, Englewood, Rogers Park, Pilsen, Hyde Park, Wicker Park, and Bridgeport. A person may be tired after work, nervous because police are present, worried about passengers, or uncertain about what the law requires. That nervousness can lead to unnecessary statements. A person may admit to drinking, admit to speeding, admit to knowing about a suspended license, or agree to a search because the person wants the stop to end. Those decisions may later become the evidence prosecutors rely on in court.
