DUISearch results for category: Illinois DUI
Peculiar drunk driving articles for the week of August 28
Really odd drunk driving news – 'Vehicles'
Lawnmower and an Illinois DUI – Dennis Cretton of Belleville in southwest Illinois had his driver's license revoked for a drunk driving conviction. He though he could get around the situation by taking his yellow riding mower for a drunken spin to a local gas station for beer. He reportedly weaved through traffic and later tried to evade police while cans of Milwaukee's Best beer were spilling out of a 12-pack. Cretton, 49, was arrested for felony aggravated DUI in Illinois.
Lawnmower and a New York DWI – Randy M. Elliot of Conklin was stopped by police for drinking beer while operating a lawn mower on a public roadway. After registering a blood alcohol content of .28, three and a half times the legal limit, the 47-year old was charged with driving while intoxicated in NY.
Ambulance and Texas DWI – Lawrence Eugene Reyes Jr. of Richards took off with an ambulance while paramedics were attending to a patient inside a Bryan hospital. The 25-year old abandoned the ambulance, undamaged, a few miles away and he was apprehended a few hours later. He was booked in the Brazos County jail for public intoxication, theft and evading arrest. Charges of driving while intoxicated in Texas are being considered.
Backhoe and Ohio DUI – Robert Tite was charged with Ohio DUI a few months ago for driving a bulldozer through his neighbors yard. The 57-year old was stopped again for operating a piece of heavy equipment while intoxicated, this time for driving a backhoe into town. He rolled through a stop sign before pulling up in front of a business in the center of Wakeman. Tite, who appeared confused at the time of arrest, failed a field sobriety test and refused to submit to a breath test. He was booked at the Huron County jail for operating a motorized vehicle while intoxicated.
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7000 Using Interlock Devices for Illinois DUI
Law requiring the devices has been in effect since beginning of year.
At least 7000 motorists in the state of Illinois have been required to install ignition interlock devices in their vehicles. A law which took effect January 1, 2009 requires all motorists convicted of driving under the influence in Illinois to install the breath-testing devices if they wish to continue driving. According to the Secretary of State's office, another 5000 drivers could install the devices by the end of the year.
The interlocks are required as a condition for return of driving privileges and are installed for 6 to 12 months, the length of time a license is typically suspended for first offense IL DUI. Drivers have the option of not installing the devices though they would be prohibited from operating a vehicle during the suspension period.
The offender pays for the installation and a monthly fee to maintain the equipment. The cost, and perhaps social stigma, are influential in the decision to opt out of use of the devices. As many as 40,000 are charged with Illinois DUI in an average year, most of them first time offenders.
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Peculiar drunk driving articles for the week of June 26
Really odd drunk driving news – 'Parallels'
Missing tire and DUI in Illinois – Robert S. Rogers, from Tennessee, crossed the center-line of a highway and sideswiped another vehicle in Naperville Illinois, resulting in a flat tire. He drove on however, creating a cascade of sparks from his tire rim. He continued for more than a mile before pulling into the Stardust Motel. Police followed directions from the eyewitness and found Rogers soon after. Rogers was charged with driving under the influence in Illinois, leaving the scene of an accident, driving without a license, illegal transportation of alcohol, driving without insurance, improper lane use and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.
Missing tire and DUI in California – An unidentified man was charged with drunk driving in California after he crashed into a guardrail and kept driving on just three tires. Sparks from the fourth rim started 20 small fires along a two mile path, burning a total of six acres, before the California Highway Patrol could apprehend the suspect.
Oklahoma DUI defendant arrives at court drunk – James Lee appeared at a Claremore court for his case of driving under the influence in Oklahoma, but he was so drunk that he was taken to a hospital instead. His blood alcohol content was nearly four times the legal limit. Police plan on adding charges of public intoxication to his arrest record.
Georgia DUI defendant arrives at court drunk – An unidentified 28-year old woman appeared at her court date for driving under the influence in GA. During a routine security check however, a Milton court bailiff detected alcohol and the woman was promptly held in contempt of court charge and sentenced to two days in jail.
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Woman Earns Alcohol Monitoring Device for Party Photos on Facebook
Photos showed parole violation for defendant waiting trial for deadly Illinois DUI.
A judge has ordered a woman accused of driving under the influence in Illinois to be outfitted with an alcohol monitoring ankle bracelet following the posting of party photos on a Facebook profile.
Erika Scoliere is waiting trial for aggravated Illinois DUI and reckless homicide for a July 2007 accident that killed a motorcyclist. As a condition of bail, she was required to not consume alcohol or be around those who are drinking. Police investigators, however, found photos of Scoliere drinking with friends posted on the social networking site. One was captioned, "Erika passed out in my bed. Ha Ha."
The Assistant State's Attorney told the judge that Scoliere also violated terms of bail by not contacting county court services by phone while at school. Scoliere attends college in Ohio. Despite protests raised by her DUI defense attorney of the social shame brought by the ankle bracelet, the Kane County judge said that Scoliere had "earned the privilege of wearing the SCRAM bracelet." The bracelet detects alcohol through the wearer’s perspiration. The device must be regularly synched via remote access with a central computer database that records violations.
Scoliere, accompanied by her parents, left the courtroom in tears.
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Illinois Police Keep Seized Cars for Personal Use
Expensive vehicles kept after arrests for suspected DUI in Illinois.
Illinois State Police have been seizing certain vehicles following arrests for drunk driving in Illinois, and then setting them aside for personal and business use by influential officials. The Associated Press has reported that police used a state seizure law to confiscate a high-performance Dodge Charger SRT8 valued at over $38,000. The vehicle was then awarded to the executive director of the Illinois State Police Merit Board.
Having a good relationship with the Merit Board is known to enhance a state troopers’ chance of promotion.
The expense of gas and maintenance for the 6.1 liter, 425-horsepower Dodge Charger is borne by the taxpayer. The muscle car is just one of two dozen desirable vehicles seized for criminal offenses, including driving under the influence, in Illinois. Others include an Audi and a Cadillac Escalade.
State police officials refuse to identify the recipients of the seized vehicles, saying it would endanger the officers if the public knew what make and model car they drove.
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Judge Bars Reinstatement of Illinois DUI Charge
Prosecutor wanted to change plea deal after learning about prior drunk driving offenses.
A judge has denied an attempt to reinstate charges of driving under the influence in Illinois against a defendant. Franklin 'Mitch' Durr was arrested for IL DUI on April 22, 2008, and a plea bargain with the prosecutor lead to the DUI charge being dropped in exchange for a guilty plea to improper registration and a fine.
The Madison County State's Attorney, William Mudge, later learned that Durr had a 1999 conviction in Missouri for involuntary manslaughter involving alcohol and 1985 judgment on a suspected DUI. Mudge said he would not have entered into the plea agreement with Durr had he known about the prior incidents, and he sought to have the order accepting the plea agreement vacated. A judge did grant the motion to vacate the acceptance order but another judge ruled that the decision did not dispose of the original plea agreement. Durr was given the opportunity to enter his plea again, under the original agreement.
The judge barred an effort by the state to pursue a new charge of drunk driving in Illinois, citing the defendant's right against double jeopardy. Durr's Illinois DUI defense attorney had argued over seven months ago that the 2008 charge was weak, as there was no evidence to prove his client was driving while intoxicated and the video of the arrest did not conclusively indicate impairment.
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13 Chicago Cops Arrested for Illinois DUI During 2008
While lower than the rate for the general public, police superintendent hopes for improvement.
It was announced that thirteen Chicago police officers were arrested for driving under the influence last year. Five incidents involved an accident and two resulted in injuries. The disclosure comes days after the news that a veteran police officer was charged with aggravated Ill DUI and reckless homicide for his role in a fiery wreck that killed two people. The officer in that case had a blood alcohol content more than three times the legal limit.
The Police Superintendent Jody Weis, who took office last year after two high-profile bar beatings involving police, created a bureau to evaluate officer conduct and increase training, especially when dealing with excessive drinking and alcohol abuse. After the most recent incident of drunk driving by a police officer, Weis made it mandatory for officers to inform the watch commander and internal affairs when a fellow officer is suspected of being intoxicated. There is an interest in implementing random testing of officers though that will require a change in the contract with the union representing the rank and file.
Of the 13 police officers charged with drunk driving in Illinois during 2008, none have yet lost their jobs. 8 cases have been resolved and 5 remain open. The penalties have included suspension with out pay for 20-45 days, reassignment to a desk position and temporary leave. Four DUI arrests were made by Chicago police, three in the Chicago suburbs and six out of state. With a total force of 13,000 officers, the rate for DUI arrest is one per 1000. The U.S. average is one drunk driving arrest for every 155 motorists.
Weis acknowledges that police officers are held to a higher standard, and accepts that the citizens of Chicago have the right to expect the police to protect them from drunk drivers and not be part of the problem.
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Peculiar drunk driving articles for the week of April 3
Really odd drunk driving news – Vehicles
Street sweeper and New York DWI – Gary Dye, 42, crashed a street sweeper while working in Dansville. A Steuben County Public Works Commissioner said that a ‘broom’ is “easy to use, it goes slow (and it) doesn’t get any simpler.” That didn’t stop Dye from causing over $10,000 in damage to the vehicle and suffering a head laceration. Dye was charged with suspicion of driving while intoxicated in NY.
Fire truck and Illinois DUI – An unidentified driver was arrested for drunk driving in Chicago after smashing into a fire truck that was responding to another crash. The man’s Honda bounced off the fire truck and smashed immediately in front of police and fire crews at the scene of the previous accident. The driver was charged with IL DUI, failure to yield to an emergency vehicle and several other offenses.
Barstool and Ohio DWI – Kile Wygle was ticketed by Newark police for drunk driving in New Jersey while he was on a motorized barstool. Wygle admitted to having had “more like fifteen” beers before crashing the barstool. OH DUI law prohibits people from operating any motorized vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Backhoe and Pennsylvania DUI – William Price was stopped for suspicion of DUI in Pittsburgh after driving a backhoe on the wrong side of the road and almost hitting a police car. Price registered a blood alcohol content of 0.13% and was charged with driving under the influence in Pennsylvania, driving under the influence with a high rate of alcohol, driving under the influence while operating a commercial vehicle and reckless driving.
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Playboy Centerfold Nipped for Illinois DUI
Crystal McCahill was arrested in January for drunk driving in Chicago.
The centerfold scheduled to appear in the May 2009 issue of Playboy magazine was charged with driving under the influence in Chicago last January 7. Crystal McCahill was stopped after allegedly running a red light in a 2005 Volkswagen Passat. According to the arrest report, she mumbled, had a strong odor of alcohol on her breath, had bloodshot and glassy eyes and registered a blood alcohol content twice the legal limit for intoxication in Illinois.
McCahill, 25, told the arresting officers that she had consumed three shots of alcohol at Climax, a Chicago nightclub where she works.
McCahill has appeared on the E! reality show about life at the California Playboy mansion, titled "The Girls Next Door." She is scheduled to make her first court appearance March 19 to face the Illinois DUI charges.
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76% Increase in Citations at 'Unofficial' St Patrick's Day Party in Illinois
DUI arrests and criminal charges up during this year's University of Illinois two day binge-fest.
For thirteen years, students at the University of Illinois have celebrated a pre-St. Patrick’s Day party known simply as the 'Unofficial'. This year's two day drinking oriented event resulted 351 citations, a 76% increase, being issued for offenses including underage drinking, drug possession, criminal damage and driving under the influence in Illinois.
The drinking free-for-all draws UI students and alumni, as well as out-of-towners. Partiers have been known to line up at campus bars before 8:00 am, organize private parties and try to take alcohol to classes. Those cited by the police included students from 52 colleges and 2 high schools from twelve states. About one third of the total violations issued were given to University of Illinois students.
Law enforcement for the even was comprised of Illinois State Police, the County Sheriff’s Department, local police departments from the towns of Champaign and Urbana, university police and the Liquor Control Commission. Officers were informed that there would be no days off and the must be prepared to work overtime.
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