Chicago DUI Attorney Comments on the Heavy Police Presence on the Roads this Holiday Weekend

Today marks the unofficial start to summer and with that start comes a need for many of us to hit the road. We head out for pic is, cookouts,and time at the Dunes, but keep in mind it is a holiday weekend and law enforcement will be out.

 This Chicago DUI attorney wants to alert you to buckle up, make sure you have a valid driver's license, insurance, and if you are driving avoid drinking. I know it goes without saying but it's not a good weekend to smoke weed either if you are going to be driving either.

 There are two roadside safety checks planned by the Chicago Police Department. There is one tonight at 5440 W Madison. It will commence at 8 pm and conclude around 4 am tomorrow morning. Additionally, there will also be another roadside safety check tomorrow night, May 26, 2012 somewhere in the Gresham (6th District) community. It will run during the same time period as the one now. Keep in mind, that even with these roadblocks there will also be saturation patrols throughout the duty.

Chicago DUI Attorney Comments on Sometimes It Isn’t What It Appears to Be

This Chicago DUI Attorney has posted here and here about the signs officers use to make a DUI arrest.  A strong practitioner can sing these signs the way a 3 year old can sing their ABC’s.  Almost every arrest includes the following:

• A strong odor of alcohol
• Eyes that are Bloodshot and/or glassy, and/or red
• Speech that is slurred, mumbled, thick- tongued, confused

And every time I have an officer testifying about these signs, I ask if there are any other reasons a person could possess those signs that has nothing to do with a DUI.  Most will be honest, although they may physically pout, and answer “yes”.

So what happens when the arresting officer shows up with those signs?  Today I asked an officer I knew what was wrong with her eyes. 

Me:                                      You know they (her eyes) are bloodshot and red don’t you?

Officer:                                 Ava, I’m exhausted I haven’t slept in almost 48 hours.

Me:                                      Have you been drinking?

Officer (caught by surprise):  Of course not!

All those signs of intoxication should be challenged, because the officer has often experienced those very same signs when they are not under the influence.