Steve Hanna

Name: Hanna Law
Price range: $$

Posted on July 31, 2015July 10, 2016 by Hanna Law

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.”

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

Posted on July 17, 2015February 18, 2026 by Hanna Law

DUI Checkpoints near the Rock Island County Fair this weekend – July 17^th – 19^th, 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 Law have handled thousands of DUI and Drunk Driving cases in IIllinois. 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 Law Attorneys at Law – July 17, 2015

Hanna Law

1528 6th Avenue

Moline, Illinois 61265

United States (US)

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

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

Posted on July 15, 2015February 18, 2026 by Hanna Law

“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 has 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 Law 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 Law 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 Law Attorneys at Law

No you may not Search my Vehicle Officer – July 14, 2015

Posted on July 14, 2015February 18, 2026 by Hanna Law

No you may not Search my Vehicle Officer – July 14, 2015

If you are detained and searched by law enforcement, whether it be for a DUI, Drug related charge, or routine traffic stop, you do have the right to refuse the search. It is important to clearly state to the arresting or investigating officer that you do not consent to the search, however, you should only verbally refuse the search and never physically resist. Merely touching an officer can result in you getting beaten or worse. A physical altercation with a police officer could also result in a felony charge for assaulting a police officer – so please, no touching.

During a traffic stop police are allowed to order the driver and any accompanying passengers out of a vehicle. If the law enforcement officer has reasonable suspicion to detain you, they may search your person for weapons – only if the suspect you are concealing a weapon.

Typically, law enforcement will ask you a series of seemingly harmless questions, such as, “You don’t mind if I have a look in your car?” This question is one of the tactics used by law enforcement officers to gain consent to search you and your vehicle/property – when most people hear these types of questions they think it is a command, however, in most cases the judicial system views this as a request. Some officers may try and make an individual feel as if they need to prove their innocence, and ask such questions as “if you don’t have anything on you, why can’t I search your vehicle?” This is a trick by law enforcement – if necessary, repeat your refusal and remain calm.

The 4th Amendment to the United States Constitution affords you the right refuse such search requests, however, this right does not require law enforcement to inform you of your right to refuse. It is important to understand that consenting to searches automatically makes them legal in the eyes of the Court. Despite what law enforcement might say, in general, you always have the right to refuse searches in a calm and peaceful manner.

Refusing a police officer’s request to search you or your property is not an admission of guilt and does not give the officer the legal right to search or detain you. In a large number of cases the police have no probable cause to search an individual or their property, however, many individuals consent to searches by law enforcement because the police use tactics that are designed to trick or intimidate individuals into consenting to search requests.

If you do not consent or refuse to a police search, and law enforcement finds illegal items on your person or property, a skilled criminal defense lawyer can file a Motion to Suppress (move to have said evidence not allowed to be entered in the case against you). If the Judge finds the officer’s search violated the 4th Amendment, and does not meet the probable cause requirements, the Motion may be granted. If the Prosecuting Attorney does have any other evidence against you, your charges will most likely be dismissed.

For these reasons, it is important to have an experienced Criminal Defense Lawyer defending your Constitutional Rights. At Hanna Law our attorneys practice almost exclusively in criminal law and have over 35 years in experience in Rock Island, Henry, Mercer Counties. Located in downtown Moline, Illinois and serving the Quad Cities. If your freedom is in jeopardy, “Results Count, and Experience is Priceless”

By: Hanna Law Attorneys at Law

DUI Checkpoints in the Quad Cities July 10, 2015

Posted on July 10, 2015February 18, 2026 by Hanna Law

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 Law Attorneys at Law

309-797-9000

1528 6th Avenue

Moline, IL 61265