Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol (DUI) – NOT GUILTY AFTER TRIAL

Client was observed speeding by a Mundelein Police Officer. The police officer indicated that she had red/glassy/bloodshot eyes and a strong odor of alcoholic beverage. The officer suspected that she was under the influence of alcohol so he asked her to perform field sobriety tests. The officer indicated that she failed the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus Test (HGN), Walk and Turn Test, One Leg Stand, Finger to Nose and the Rhomberg Test. He said that she failed every single test given to my client. On the day of trial, the prosecutor offered to reduce the charges to a Reckless Driving with no mandatory alcohol classes. I was confident in my skills so I told him that we would not plead guilty and we will proceed with trial. The trial commenced shortly thereafter. The prosecutor called their officer as a witness and then played the officer’s in-squad video of my client performing the field sobriety tests. After the judge viewed the video I cross-examined the officer. I made him admit that he did not follow his training when having my client perform the field sobriety tests. I questioned him about his inexperience and his lack of proper training in conducting field sobriety tests. After my cross-examination, the judge found my not guilty of all charges except a speeding ticket! She received 3 months supervision and a $50 fine on the speeding ticket! My office could have taken the easy way out and got the charges reduced and plead guilty. That’s not what we do. We fight aggressively for each and every one of our clients!