A proposed piece of state legislation that would toughen penalties for Illinois speeders caught traveling at 100 mph seems to be getting the green light from lawmakers, according to the Chicago Tribune. If it passes, it may also affect how some DUI cases are handled.
The newspaper published an investigative report last Sunday citing court documents indicating that nearly two-thirds of so-called "triple-digit" speeders receive a light form of probation that keeps the offense off their records.
But among the Tribune's findings is one particularly sobering revelation.
About 40 percent of Chicago-area motorists stopped for driving 100 mph or faster while drunk were somehow able to get their records cleared "with no conviction even for DUI: since 2006. Are Chicago DUI attorneys that good at what they do?
Not necessarily.
The Tribune blames the slaps on the wrist of extreme speeders (some of them intoxicated) as a problem with the courts, giving no specific reasons why. Secretary of State Jesse White, infuriated by what the Tribune exposed, reportedly wants to eliminate the possibility of court supervision (i.e. probation) for such offenders.
DuPage County resident Mike Donovan lost his daughter and grandson to a fatal 2005 accident that was caused by an extreme speeder with a long record of such supervisions. For Mr. Donovan, the light sentences are a personal affront:
"We see the judicial system basically failing us."
So he and others hope the legislative system can pick up the slack. The bill introduced by Rep. John D'Amico, D-Chicago, would ban judges from handing down court supervision to anyone convicted of going 40 mph or more over the speed limit.
The bill is gaining steam but some judges have cautioned about unintended consequences, including Christian County Judge Ron Spears:
"One thing I learned as a judge early on is you never say 'always' or 'never.' Every case has its own factual basis."
Related Resources:
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Drunk Driving Sentencing (FindLaw)
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Does Speeding Still Kill? (FindLaw's Injured Blog)
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Browse Chicago DUI Lawyers (FindLaw)
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