Important Things You Should Know About Carrying a Concealed Weapon in Illinois

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The right to own firearms is part of the Bill of Rights in the U.S. Constitution and cannot be taken away by the government. However, lawmakers in each state have the authority to make their own laws pertaining to the use, sale, distribution, and ownership of firearms and to legally restrict certain people from owning one. In Illinois, owning a firearm is legal and even carrying a concealed firearm can be legal. If you are a firearm owner, there are a few things you should know about carrying a concealed weapon in Illinois.

You Must Possess the Proper Licensure

In the state of Illinois, if you want to carry a concealed weapon with you, you must first obtain both a firearm owner identification (FOID) card and a concealed carry license (CCL). Everyone in the state who owns a firearm must possess a FOID card, while only those who wish to carry a concealed weapon must also have a CCL. To be eligible for a CCL, there are a variety of requirements, such as:

  • Possessing a current and valid FOID card
  • Not being convicted of more than two DUI charges or misdemeanor or felony charges involving violence
  • Successfully completing the required firearms training

Carrying a concealed weapon without having a CCL or having it in your possession can result in serious criminal charges.

There are Certain Places You Cannot Carry a Concealed Weapon

Even though you are permitted to carry a concealed weapon once you have received your CCL, there are still certain places that you are prohibited from carrying a concealed weapon by Illinois law, including:

  • Schools, colleges, universities, and child-care facilities
  • City, county, and state government offices and related facilities
  • Hospitals and nursing homes
  • Public transportation and their related facilities
  • Bars and other establishments that mostly serve alcohol
  • Public playgrounds and parks
  • Casinos and racetracks
  • Stadiums and other facilities used for sporting events
  • Public libraries, amusement parks, zoos and museums
  • Areas where firearms are prohibited under federal law
  • Businesses and other properties that have “no firearms” signs posted

A Will County Weapons Charges Defense Attorney has the Knowledge You Need for Your Case

Any weapons charges you may be facing are serious; there is no such thing as a small weapons charge, especially when it comes to carrying a concealed weapon. At the Fotopoulos Law Office, we understand the gravity of weapons charges and will fight to protect your future. With more than 15 years of experience defending clients from various criminal charges, our skilled Joliet, IL, weapons charges defense lawyer can help you with your case. To schedule a free consultation, call us today at 708-942-8400.

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About the Act

FAQs

Illinois Industries With the Highest Number of Non-Fatal Injuries

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Since the creation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in 1970, the U.S. government has placed an increased focus on decreasing the number of injuries happening in workplaces across the country. Today, OSHA still pushes for workplace safety and adequate training and precautions to try to prevent as many workplace injuries as possible. Unfortunately, workplace injuries are still common. According to the latest information from the Illinois Department of Public Health, there were an estimated 132,400 workplace injuries recorded throughout the state in 2017. Though an injury can happen in any workplace, there are certain industries that have more workplace injuries than others.

  1. Health Care and Social Assistance: Most of the time, people think that the most dangerous industries to work in are those that use heavy machinery such as construction or factory work. In reality, the health care industry is typically the industry that has the highest number of workplace injuries. In Illinois, there were an estimated 21,300 injuries in this industry in 2017. Workplaces in this industry commonly include nursing and residential care facilities and hospitals.
  2. Manufacturing: While it is not the industry that has the most workplace injuries, manufacturing still ranks rather high when it comes to being hurt on the job. In 2017, an estimated 18,100 injuries occurred in manufacturing. This category covers most types of manufacturing, including plastics and rubber manufacturing, food manufacturing, textile mills, computer and electronic manufacturing and petroleum and coal products manufacturing.
  3. Retail Trade: Working in retail trade also has the possibility of being dangerous. An estimated 14,400 injuries were recorded in Illinois in 2017. The retail industry includes general merchandise stores, food and beverage stores, clothing stores and furniture and home furnishing stores. Many times, injuries recorded in this industry are overexertion, falls or trips.
  4. Transportation and Warehousing: The transportation and warehousing industry consists of nearly all types of transportation, such as air, water, rail and truck transportation, pipeline transportation, postal service and couriers and messengers. Around 10,900 injuries were recorded in this industry, with the majority coming from truck transportation.
  5. Entertainment and Hospitality: There is a wide range of workplaces that are included in the entertainment and hospitality industry, such as hotels, restaurants, bars, casinos, amusement parks, and museums. An estimated 10,700 injuries were recorded in 2017, with the foodservice industry carrying the majority of the injuries.

Have You Been Injured on the Job? A Cook County Workers’ Compensation Attorney Can Help

Being hurt while you are at work can change the course of your and your family’s lives forever. Not only can a workplace injury plunge you into financial distress, but you could also be facing the effects of your injuries for the rest of your life. At the Fotopoulos Law Office, we will protect your interests at all times and aggressively pursue every source of compensation possible. If you have been hurt on the job, do not wait – call our skilled Tinley Park, IL, workers’ compensation lawyers today at 708-942-8400 to schedule a free consultation.

Sources:

Survey of Occupational Injuriesand Illnesses in Illinois, 2017

Goods-Producing Industries

Understanding Field Sobriety Tests During Illinois DUI Stops

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Before police even pull you over for a DUI stop, they will be watching your actions and the way you are driving to determine if a traffic stop is needed. The police officer will be looking for signs of alcohol impairment, such as failing to maintain proper lane position, speeding and braking problems, poor judgment and lack of vigilance. Once the officer believes they have enough evidence to initiate a traffic stop, they will pull you over and may ask you to step out of the vehicle. If the officer suspects that you might be under the influence of alcohol, they will ask you to complete a series of tests, which are called field sobriety tests. These can be standardized or non-standardized, although standardized field sobriety tests tend to hold up better in court because they have been extensively studied.

Standardized Tests

Standardized field sobriety tests have been studied and determined to be fairly accurate in determining if someone is impaired by alcohol. An officer will ask you to perform these tests during almost every traffic stop for suspicion of DUI. There are three types of field sobriety tests that are considered to be standard:

  • Horizontal gaze nystagmus (HGN): During this test, the officer will be looking at the involuntary shaking of your eyeball as you gaze to the side, following the motion of the officer’s finger or pen. This is a phenomenon that occurs when people rotate their eyes at high peripheral angles but is exaggerated and occurs at lesser angles when a person is impaired by alcohol.
  • Walk-and-turn: This test involves you walking along a line on the ground while maintaining your balance and focus. The officer will ask you to take nine heel-to-toe steps, turn on one foot and return in the same manner. The officer will be watching to see if you can follow directions and how intact your balance is.
  • One-leg stand: During this test, you will be instructed to stand with one of your feet about six inches off of the ground, during which you will be asked to count out loud until the officer tells you that you can stop after about 30 seconds. The officer will be looking to see if you can balance without swaying, putting your foot down or using your arms to keep balanced.

Non-Standardized Tests

The type of tests that officers use typically depends on the specific police department they work for and that department’s policies. Illinois police have been known to use other non-standardized tests during DUI traffic stops, which you may be able to challenge in court. These tests include:

  • Alphabet Test: The officer will ask you to recite a portion of the alphabet. This test will start with a letter other than A and end with a letter other than Z.
  • Count Down Test: Similar to the alphabet test, you will be asked to count backward from a certain number to another number. For example, the officer can ask you to count backward from 47 to 32.

Our Cook County DUI Defense Lawyers Will Stand by You in Court

You have the right to refuse a field sobriety test. If you do agree to the test, there may be reasons other than intoxication that you performed poorly. Illinois has some of the strictest DUI laws in the country, which is why it is important that you contact a skilled Tinley Park, IL, DUI defense attorney if you have been charged with driving under the influence. At the Fotopoulos Law Office, we will do whatever we can to get you the best outcome possible. Do not hesitate – call our office today at 708-942-8400 to schedule a free consultation.

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Standardized Field Sobriety Test

Standardized Field Sobriety Testing One-Day Refresher

How the “Surveillance Location Privilege” can Compromise a Criminal Defendant’s Rights

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The Constitution affords all criminal defendants, such as those facing drug charges, the right to “confront” the witnesses against them. This means that if you are arrested and charged with a crime, you have the right to cross-examine the arresting officer and any other prosecution witnesses at trial. However, law enforcement often tries to undermine a defendant’s right to confrontation by withholding information that might benefit the defense and undermine the prosecution.

Drug Conviction Reversed After Improper Invocation of Privilege

Some Illinois courts recognize what is known as a “surveillance location privilege.” This often comes up in the context of drug cases where a police officer on stake out claims to observe illegal activity. At trial, the prosecution then argues that the officer should not be required to disclose his or her “secret” surveillance location.

Although the Illinois Supreme Court has never expressly approved of the surveillance location privilege, the state’s intermediate appellate courts do. The privilege itself is not unlimited but rather must be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Consider a recent example. In this case, the defendant was arrested, tried, and convicted of possession of a controlled substance and sentenced to nine years in prison. During pre-trial discovery, the defendant asked the prosecution to disclose the exact surveillance locations of the police officers who allegedly observed him engaging in a narcotics transaction. The state refused, citing the privilege, and the judge agreed that disclosure of the police officer’s surveillance location “would harm the public interest.”

The Illinois First District Appellate Court disagreed and reversed the defendant’s conviction. The burden is on the prosecution to justify the invocation of the privilege, the appeals court noted, which is generally done in a closed hearing in the trial judge’s chambers. The trial judge here did conduct such a hearing, but no transcript was made. The Appellate Court was therefore unable to review exactly “what evidence was presented” to determine if the prosecution, in fact, met its burden.

Beyond that, the First District also said the trial judge erred by not affording the defendant a chance to rebut the prosecution’s evidence in support of its privilege claim. A trial court is required to “balance the public interest in keeping the [surveillance] location secret against the defendant’s interest in preparing a defense.” Here, the Appellate Court said the trial court “abused its discretion” by failing to perform this constitutionally necessary balancing test.

Have You Been Charged With a Crime?

If you are facing a criminal charge and the possibility of spending several years in prison, it is essential that you have qualified representation. Speak with an experienced Orland Park criminal defense attorney. Contact the Fotopoulos Law Office, today.

Source:

Illinois Official Reports