Chicago DUI Lawyer Blog

Lidia Zuradzka, of Wheeling, was arrested on June 13 in Northbrook, Illinois for driving under the influence, leaving the scene of an accident, and three counts of endangering the life of a child. Zuradzka was working as a nanny at the time and had three kids in the car. Police say she collided with another vehicle and left the scene of the minor accident. There were no injuries reported.

According to the Cook County Circuit Clerk's Office, Zuradzka had previously been sentenced to one-year in jail in 2006 after she was convicted of criminal trespassing. She served four months and was released this past March and placed on parole.

Nanny Charged With DUI, Child Endangerment, www.northbrook.patch.com, June 20, 2011

A recent study released by the Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists (AAIM) lists Rockford with 727 DUI arrests, the highest number of any Illinois city in 2010, outside of Chicago. Rockford was followed by Naperville with 671 drunk driving arrests and Elgin with 410 arrests. The top three were closely followed by Waukegan, Carol Stream, Elmhurst, and Aurora.

The study provides an insight into the police enforcement in each of these areas. The Executive Director of AAIM stated, "There are several individuals making more DUI arrests per year than many entire police departments in Illinois."

The study shows a drop in Chicago DUI arrests from 4,341 in 2009 to 3,695 in 2010. Illinois State Police DUI arrests increased from 9,996 in 2009 to 10,734 in 2010.

Cook County Sheriff's Police had the highest number of DUI arrests of any county with 515, followed by Lake County, DeKalb County, and Will County.

Which suburban towns have most DUI arrests, www.dailyherald.com, June 22, 2011

Drew Forquer, a former dentist, was arrested for his fifth DUI in August of 2008. He was involved in a crash that resulted in the death of Jeff Bondy, 47. Bondy was driving his Harley Davidson motorcycle and fell victim to Forquer's wide left turn. Forquer attempted to back off of Bondy, but was unable to move his car. While Forquer allegedly admitted to drinking two beers prior to driving, he told the police officer that the motorcycle had hit his car.

A Breathalyzer test was given to Forquer almost four hours after the wreck and registered a .045 percent. This Breathalyzer test has become the point of contention between the prosecution and defense attorneys. While the prosecution's witness estimates Forquer's BAC to have been between .084 and .123 percent at the time of the crash, the defense's expert witness claims that, because of Forquer's liver disease and alcoholism, his metabolism would be slowed, and his BAC would have been slightly below the legal limit.

Forquer's defense attorney asked the judge at the Cook County Criminal Courts Building to aquit Forquer due to the immense amount of variables that can create an inaccurate BAC in cases such as this. This motion was denied.

DUI case against ex-dentist focuses on blood-alcohol evidence, www.chicagotribune.com, June 16, 2011

Paul Woodard walked into court with his public defender with hopes that his $20,000 bail would be reduced to $10,000. However, Assistant States Attorney Andrew Whitfield told a Kane County Judge about Woodward's 25 previous driving on revoked charges, seeking to increase his bond to $150,000.

Judge Kostelny instead raised his bond to $75,000. Whitfield argued that the only way to protect the public would be to raise Woodard's bond to keep him off the street.

Woodard was charged with aggravated DUI and aggravated driving with a revoked license. After officers tried to stop Woodward for driving 44 mph in a 30 mph zone, Woodard pulled into a driveway and allegedly attempted to flee on foot but was eventually caught. Due to his previous convictions, Woodard is facing a Class 2 felony. If convicted, Woodward's previous drug and other felony convictions could result in an extended sentence on the new charges.

Kane judge raised bail on DUI suspect with 25 previous revoked license charges, www.suntimes.com, June 16, 2011

Rodney Jones, 39, may have made it from Des Plaines to the Magnificent Mile on his Motorcycle in seven minutes if he hadn't been stopped by Illinois State Trooper Jason Heinzl.

Jones is the fastest speeding ticket ever recorded in the Chicago area and possibly in the State of Illinois. Jones received a citation for going 182 mph in 55 mph zone with "moderate" traffic. Heinzl was in dismay when he looked at the radar but even more surprised that Jones had stopped when he pulled him over.

When asked why he didn't run, Jones responded, "I wasn't in the mood to run. If I'd wanted to run, I'd have run."

Jones, who rides with the Chicago RedLiners motorcycle club, was fined $375 and ordered to purchase high-risk insurance.

The second fastest speeder ever caught was doing 150 mph on I-94. Illinois has increased the penalty for aggravated speeding, a new law that went into effect this past January. Anyone caught speeding 31 or more over the limit faces a Class B Misdemeanor. Anyone caught speeding 40 mph or more over the limit faces a Class A Misdemeanor (up to 12 months in jail and a $2,500 fine).

The big catch: 355 pounder going 182 mph, www.suntimes.com, June 13, 2011

Illinois State Trooper Jason Heinzl has been on the force for 12 years and has issued more speeding tickets than any other State Trooper. His total is an astonishing 5,005 tickets. He has issued several speeding tickets to drivers going 5 mph or less over the speed limit, but also is given credit for ticketing a motorcyclist who was driving 182 mph, the fastest motorist ever caught in Illinois. Cars going over 80 mph and trucks exceeding 70 mph are the main focus of the tickets issued by State Trooper Heinzl.

Some tips to avoid a speeding ticket are being extra vigilant on Saturdays and Sundays, during morning rush hour, and between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. These days and hours are primetime for police to stop and ticket drivers. Holidays such as Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas are peak times as well.

Illinois' Ticketmaster: State trooper has written more than 5,000 tickets, www.suntimes.com, June 11, 2011

William McCann, 66, was walking home when a 2002 Dodge Neon hit him as he was crossing the street. McCann hit the windshield and fell to the ground. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver, after allegedly running over him and dragging him about 150 feet, stopped the car and took off running on foot. Off-duty Chicago Police Officer Zachary Cuatchon as well as another man identified as Adalberto Aceves, who were on the way home from work, witnessed the driver fleeing from the scene and took off after him. They were both able to tackle the driver and restrain him while a third man went to Cuatchon's car to get his handcuffs.

Saul Chaves, 35, the driver of the vehicle, faces two felony charges, aggravated DUI and leaving the scene of an accident involving bodily injury or death.

McCann grew up in the South Side of Chicago. His daughter suspects he may have been walking home from his favorite Mexican restaurant right before the accident. His daughter, Nicole Goins, who lives in Maryland, was moving back to Illinois so he could spend more time with his grandchildren.

Off-duty cop, landscaper chase down suspect in fatal DUI, www.suntimes.com, June 11, 2011

Mark Grace, former Chicago Cubs and Diamondbacks first baseman, was arrested on Memorial Day on suspicion of DUI in Scottsdale. According to police reports, Grace was stopped by police shortly after 1 a.m. after making a wide right turn and weaving wihtin his lane. He allegedly didn't have his wallet or driver's license with him at the time of the arrest and admitted to "having a few drinks." Blood test results are pending. Grace, 46, played 16 Major League seasons with the Cubs and D-backs. He is currently a commentator for the D-backs and Fox.

Diamondbacks announcer Mark Grace arrested for DUI, www.nbcsports.com, June 8, 2011

Ex-Cub Mark Grace arrested on suspicion of DUI, www.chicagotribune.com, June 8, 2011

Sandra Uher, 54, of Elgin allegedly appeared in court drunk for proceedings on her sixth DUI charge. Last Thursday, Uher's bail was revoked after she showed up intoxicated at Rolling Meadows Courthouse. Police transported her to Cermak Hospital, part of Cook County Jail.

Uher's most recent DUI arrest was in March, when she allegedly ran a stop sign in Elgin and crashed into another vehicle. Police claim that she had a very high BAC of .30 after she submitted to a preliminary breath test. Uher was also charged with driving on a revoked license. She was out on a $100,000 bond after posting $10,000. Uher could face 6-30 years in prison if convicted.

Elgin woman charged with sixth DUI comes to court drunk, authorities say, www.dailyherald.com, June 4, 2011

Woman Shows Up Drunk at Sixth DUI Hearing, www.nbcchicago.com, June 6, 2011

Carlos Estrada, 42, of Berwyn was arrested on suspicion of DUI on Wednesday, just hours before he was due to appear in court to be sentenced on a prior DUI. Just before 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Estrada was pulled over in a Dodge Durango near the intersection of Harlem Avenue and Lawton Road for an expired registration sticker. As the officer approached the vehicle, the driver sped away.

After another officer spotted the vehicle in Berwyn, Estrada allegedly blew eight stop signs in an effort to outrun the police. The chase was called off out of concern for public safety. However, around 1 a.m. the vehicle was spotted again and police followed the vehicle to Estrada's home. After Estrada exited the vehicle, Riverside officers reportedly chased him through yards before tackling and arresting him.

Estrada's has had a revoked driver's license since 1985 for three DUI convictions. Police say aggravated DUI charges are pending the results of blood and urine tests. Estrada was charged with felony aggravated fleeing and eluding as well as a number of traffic citations.

Man pulled over for DUI on morning he's to be sentenced for DUI, www.suntimes.com, June 3, 2011