Rock Island County DUI Lawyer

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

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

Criminal Record

They sure seem to know which cars to stop in Henry County IL – July 15, 2015

“They sure seem to know which cars to stop in Henry County, IL” – July 15, 2015

It should not take an extended amount time for a Police officer to conduct a routine traffic stop – that is unless the traffic stop is an excuse to initiate a full blown narcotics investigation. Vehicles that meet certain characteristics are routinely stopped in Henry County along Interstate 80 (I-80) for minor traffic infractions, i.e. going slightly over the speed limit, following too close to another vehicle, ect. In the May 12, 2014 Rock Island Dispatch • Argus article ‘Interstate whispers’ boost I-80 busts in Henry County Attorney Steve Hanna states “They sure seem to know what cars to stop (referring to the number of traffic stops that result in drug investigations along Interstate 80 in Henry County).” During the decades Attorneys Steve Hanna and Jonathan Ruud have been handling drug related cases in Henry County, they have seen law enforcement use routine traffic stops to go on a fishing expedition to determine if the vehicle is being used to traffic narcotics or drugs. Hanna & Ruud, LLC has argued many times in Henry County, IL that a routine traffic stop does not give law enforcement ‘probable cause’ to initiate a narcotics investigation – and in many cases have successfully had evidence which was illegitimately obtained by law enforcement suppressed from being entered into evidence.

While law enforcement has been able to get away with these tactics in the past, the tide may be turning. Earlier this year, April 2015, the United States Supreme Court Ruled that law enforcement cannot extend a traffic stop to initiate a narcotics investigation without justification in the case Rodriguez v. United States. In this case Mr. Rodriguez was pulled over for veering onto the shoulder of a highway in Nebraska and the officer prolonged the stop after issuing Rodriguez a warning until a K-9 unit could arrive on scene to search the vehicle for the presence of drugs. In the majority decision Justice Ginsburg explained, “Because addressing the infraction is the purpose of the stop, it may ‘last no longer than is necessary to effectuate that purpose.’ Authority for the seizure thus ends when tasks tied to the traffic infraction are—or reasonably should have been—completed.”

While this ruling helps protect individuals’ civil liberties, and safeguards against law enforcement agents who disregard the Constitutional Rights afforded by the Fourth Amendment, it does not set a specific time limit for a traffic stop – thus leaving the determination of “how long is too long” for a traffic stop up to the presiding Judge in these types of cases.

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

Hanna and Ruud, LLC Attorneys at Law

1528 6th Avenue
Moline, Illinois 61265
United States (US)
Phone: (309) 797-9000
Fax: 309-736-9122

 

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