We represent clients charged with felony & misdemeanor driving under the influence. We advocate for license reinstatement, reduced charges, and dismissal of charges. We handle traffic violations including speeding tickets, reckless driving, and driving without a license. We assist clients at hearings before the Illinois Secretary of State with drivers license issues including reinstatement, obtaining a restricted license to drive, and reduction of license suspension periods.

The Law Offices of Michael D. Baker represent Illinois clients charged with violations of the Illinois Vehicle Code, including DUI, Driving During Revocation/Suspension, Illegally Transporting Alcohol and many other offensives.  Driving under the Influence, DUI, or DWI in some jurisdictions, carry with them the possibility of severe penalties especially Felony DUI and Felony Driving while Suspended/Revoked. Our attorneys offer you aggressive representation in Cook County Courts, including Chicago, Skokie, Rolling Meadows, Maywood, Bridgeview and Markham, Lake County Courts, including Waukegan, Grayslake, Lakehurst and Mundelein, DuPage County, including Wheaton, Downer’s Grove, Addison and Glendale Heights. By negotiating with the State's Attorney's Office when appropriate, we help our clients avoid time-consuming and costly DUI litigation. However, if we deem a more aggressive approach is in our client's best interest, we have a track record of successfully defending clients charged with DUI in courtrooms throughout Illinois: Rolling Meadows courthouse, Skokie Court at Old Orchard, Traffic court, Daley Center, Bridgeview, Maywood, Markham, DUI in Lake county (Waukegan) or DuPage county court (Wheaton) and McHenry County.

Illinois traffic tickets, including DUI, Reckless Driving, Improper Lane Usage, Failure to Yield, Following too closely, Leaving the scene of an accident involving personal injury or property damage, speeding in a School or Construction Zone carry with them possible loss of driving privileges and increased insurance rates.    Experienced Illinois DUI and Traffic lawyers can help minimize or prevent the penalties the State will be seeking.  The loss of driving privileges can cause great hardship for many individuals. Since DUI and traffic violations affect your insurance premiums and possibly even your right to drive, it would be wise to consult with experienced attorneys before you plead guilty on a DUI charge or file for informal or formal hearing to restore your driving privileges. You may be eligible for traffic school or for a restricted driving permit or reinstatement with the Secretary of State's office.

Illinois DUI law enforcement officers are trained to look for the following symptoms of possible Illinois DUI’s:

• Turning With Wide Radius
• Straddling Center or Lane Marker
• Appearing to be Drunk
• Almost Striking Object or Vehicle
• Weaving
• Driving on Other Than Designated Roadway
• Swerving
• Speed Slower Than 10 M.P.H. Below Limit
• Stopping Without Cause in Traffic Lane
• Following Too Closely
• Drifting
• Tires on Center or Lane Marker
• Braking Erradically
• Driving Into Opposing Crossing Traffic
• Signaling Inconsistantly With Driving Actions
• Slow Response to Traffic Signals
• Stopping Inappropiately (Other Than in Traffic Lane)
• Turning Abruptly or Illegally
• Accelerating or Decelerating Rapidly
• Headlights Off
• Odor of alcohol on breath

The above symptoms can often be the result of factors other then DUI and
the aggressive Illinois DUI Attorneys from PERRY AND BAKER can put your
best case forward to the Illinois Courts.

Standardized Field Sobriety Testing

The Standardized Field Sobriety Test (SFST) is a battery of three tests
administered and evaluated in a standardized manner to obtain validated
indicators of impairment and establish probable cause for arrest. These
tests were developed as a result of research sponsored by the National
HighwayTraffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and conducted by the
Southern California Research Institute. The three tests of the SFST are:
the horizontal gaze nystagmus (HGN), the walk-and-turn, the one-leg
stand.

These tests are administered systematically and are evaluated according
to measured responses of the suspect.

HGN Testing

Horizontal gaze nystagmus is an involuntary jerking of the eyeball which
occurs naturally as the eyes gaze to the side. Under normal
circumstances, nystagmus occurs when the eyes are rotated at high
peripheral angles. However, when a person is impaired by alcohol,
nystagmus is exaggerated and may occur at lesser angles. An
alcohol-impaired person will also often have difficulty smoothly
tracking a moving object. In the HGN test, the officer observes the eyes
of a suspect as the suspect follows a slowly moving object such as a pen
or small flashlight, horizontally with his eyes. The examiner looks for
three indicators of impairment in each eye: if the eye cannot follow a
moving object smoothly, if jerking is distinct when the eye is at
maximum deviation, and if the angle of onset of jerking is within 45
degrees of center. If, between the two eyes, four or more clues appear,
the suspect likely has a BAC of 0.10 or greater. NHTSA research
indicates that this test allows proper classification of approximately
77 percent of suspects. HGN may also indicate consumption of seizure
medications, phencyclidine, a variety of inhalants, barbiturates, and
other depressants. Although scientific in appearance, HGN is highly
unreliable due to the lack of expertise of the officer in administering
or interpreting the test.

Divided Attention Testing

The walk-and-turn test and one-leg stand test are “divided attention”
tests that are easily performed by most sober people. They require a
suspect to listen to and follow instructions while performing simple
physical movements. Impaired persons have difficulty with tasks
requiring their attention to be divided between simple mental and
physical exercises.

In the walk-and-turn test, the subject is directed to take nine steps,
heel-to-toe, along a straight line. After taking the steps, the suspect
must turn on one foot and return in the same manner in the opposite
direction. The examiner looks for seven indicators of impairment: if the
suspect cannot keep balance while listening to the instructions, begins
before the instructions are finished, stops while walking to regain
balance, does not touch heel-to-toe, uses arms to balance, loses balance
while turning, or takes an incorrect number of steps. NHTSA research
indicates that 68 percent of individuals who exhibit two or more
indicators in the performance of the test will have a BAC of 0.10 or
greater.

In the one-leg stand test, the suspect is instructed to stand with one
foot approximately six inches off the ground and count aloud by
thousands (One thousand-one, one thousand-two, etc.) until told to put
the foot down. The officer times the subject for a 30 seconds. The
officer looks for four indicators of impairment, including swaying while
balancing, using arms to balance, hopping to maintain balance, and
putting the foot down. NHTSA research indicates that 65 percent of
individuals who exhibit two or more such indicators in the performance
of the test will have a BAC of 0.10 of greater. The effectiveness of
SFST in court testimony and evidence depends upon the cumulative total
of impairment indicators provided by the three-test battery.

Illinois DUI lawyer | Chicago & Northwest Suburbs. DUI / DWI & Traffic Violationss

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Published: January 13, 2008, Chicago.