Category Archives: Rock Island DUI Lawyer

Hanna and Ruud, LLC

Steve Hanna

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As a criminal defense attorney, Steve Hanna has represented many people who have been arrested on Interstate 80, in Henry County for Drug Trafficking. Steve Hanna also a member of the National College of DUI Defense (NCDD) and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), Mr. Hanna completed the NCDD Harvard DUI Program since 2007 and regularly attends seminars to provide clients with cutting-edge defenses. Steve’s philosophy on Criminal and DUI Defense is “Scientific and Technical Defenses are designed to create reasonable doubt. “Doubt” will make the difference between conviction and acquittal.”

Rock Island County DUI Lawyer

DUI Checkpoints near the Rock Island County Fair this weekend – July 17th – 19th, 2015

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DUI Checkpoints near the Rock Island County Fair this weekend – July 17th – 19th, 2015

The Rock Island County Fair has been a Quad City tradition for nearly 150 years. It’s an excellent event with entertainment, rides, great food, and gives friends and family a chance to learn about the county’s rich history in agriculture and farming. This event is a staple in the Quad Cities, and thousands of people attend every year. While many people have a great time, there are the occasional few who may have a few too many drinks – and whenever there is an event that serves alcohol – you can bet there will be police not far away.

While some States do not permit DUI Checkpoints, Illinois does. I’m sure most Quad City residents are have seen these checkpoints setup near Riverside Park, or other places throughout Rock Island County. The purpose of these stops is to reduce the amount of intoxicated drivers on the road, however, it is important for motorists to understand they do have rights at DUI Checkpoints. If you are stopped this weekend at one of these checkpoints, remember that:

  • You have the right to refuse all tests,
  • To have an attorney present during questioning,
  • You do not have to consent to any searches,
  • If you are not under arrest, you have the right to ask the police officer if you are free to leave.

Often times, police officers will use tactics and methods to prolong a motorist and ask questions that may seem like commands, such as “How much have you had to drink tonight?” – You do not have to answer these questions, and it is well within your right to tell the police officer “I am not resisting, and I refuse to answer any questions without an attorney present. If I am not under arrest, am I free to leave?” The most important thing during these stops is to remain calm and exercise your constitutional rights.

The Attorneys at Hanna & Ruud, LLC have handled thousands of DUI and Drunk Driving cases in Iowa and Illinois. If you are charged with a DUI or serious criminal offense, call 309.797.9000 Attorneys are available 24 Hours a day, and Live Chat is also available on the Website.

This blog entry, nor is any other information for on this website, is not intended as legal advise. Please view our Disclaimer.  At Hanna & Ruud, LLC we understand that choosing an Attorney is an important decision and such a decision should not be made solely on the contents of this website.  

By: Hanna & Ruud, LLC Attorneys at Law – July 17, 2015

Hanna & Ruud, LLC Attorneys at Law

1528 6th Avenue

Moline, Illinois 61265

United States (US)

Phone: 309-797-9000
Fax: 309-736-9122

Rock Island Criminal Defense

DUI Checkpoints in the Quad Cities July 10, 2015

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DUI Checkpoints in  the Quad Cities July 10, 2015

This time of you year there are many Road blocks and DUI checkpoints in Rock Island County and the Quad Cities. It is important to drive safe but to also understand your constitutional rights. You have the right to refuse all test.  A police officer is entitled to briefly stop a person to investigate if, given the totality of the circumstances, the officer has specific, articulable facts, taken together with rational inferences from the facts, that warrant the intrusion. Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1, 21 (1968) (emphasis added). DUI roadblocks are a “seizure,” and they are legal if the intrusion created by the police is limited, i.e., reasonable. In People v. Bartley, the Illinois Supreme Court held that “[t]he [DUI] problem is so serious that . . . we hold that this interest is compelling and will therefore justify some intrusion on the unfettered movement of traffic in order to reduce alcohol-related accidents and deter driving under the influence.” 109 Ill. 2d 273, 285 (1985). See also Michigan Dept. of State Police v. Sitz, 496 U.S. 444 (1990). The Bartley Court further held that a DUI roadblock does not violate the Fourth Amendment even where the officer has no individualized suspicion. Bartley, 109 Ill. 2d at 280 (emphasis added).

People will seek to avoid roadblocks for a variety of reasons. Commonly, people  mistake a roadblock for a traffic accident and make a turn or a U-turn before entering the checkpoint. Some people may recognize the roadblock for what it is, a DUI checkpoint, and avoid it for no reason at all. Law Enforcement Officers will stop those who avoid DUI Checkpoints to justify reasonable suspicion for a traffic stop. Recently however, the Third District Court of Illinois ruled that a motorist can legally avoid a roadblock.

BY Hanna & Ruud, LLC Attorneys at Law

309-797-9000

1528 6th Avenue

Moline, IL 61265

#dui #criminaldefense #duilawyer

Hanna and Ruud, LLC Attorneys at Law

1528 6th Avenue
Moline, Illinois 61265
United States (US)
Phone: (309) 797-9000
Fax: 309-736-9122
Email: contact@hanna-law.com

Should I Stay or Should I Blow?

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“Why would someone refuse the breath test if they were not drunk?”

Criminal DUI Defense

If you have been charged with a DUI in Illinois, you need an experienced Attorney, and Results Count!

Having gone through many DUI jury and bench trials in Rock Island County, Henry County, and the surrounding areas in Illinois that involve a breath test refusal, the number one issue the jury is usually most concerned with is, “Why would someone refuse the breath test if they were not drunk?” This is why it is important for a skilled DUI Attorney to scientifically refute the States Attorney’s evidence, or lack there of. There are many reasons to and not to refuse chemical tests in a DUI case. Many people refuse the breath and standard field sobriety tests because they do not trust the methods or equipment used to administrator the presence of drugs or alcohol, which is completely justifiable. Under the Implied Consent law in Illinois allows a police officer to ask for a chemical sample of a suspect’s blood, breath , or urine. The police officer can even ask for samples of two of the three, and if the suspect does not comply then it is deemed a refusal.

It is the duty of a skilled Criminal and DUI Defense lawyer in Illinois to give the jury reasonable doubt about why the breathalyzer or other tests were refused, and to prove that the government does not have adequate evidence to prove the suspect was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.  Of course there are many reasons why a person would refuse the breath test.  It is “not” the DUI or Criminal Defense Attorney’s job to prove the suspect was not intoxicated. This is because the burden of proof  falls on the prosecutor and it is unconstitutional to shift the burden to proof to a suspect not guilty to the criminal offense.

One important reason anyone could refuse a breath test in Illinois is because there are many potential problems with the state’s breath test equipment,  it is sometimes outdated, not calibrated correctly, and may lack important procedural safeguards.

If you have been charged with a DUI in Rock Island, Henry, Mercer, County in Illinois Call 309.797.9000 – We also serve many other areas in Illinois.

By:  Hanna & Ruud, LLC Attorneys at Law