Trooper Talk

Dear Randy,

What does the law say about funerals going through stop signs and also what about when the light on the highway changes when they are 1/2 way through the light? Are the second 1/2 to keep going or break up the procession?


Bob

Officer Ness--I understand the rule about truck traffic on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago. Are passenger vehicles pulling covered trailers acceptable?

Thanks very much for your reply.

Greetings,
I recently received a $50 parking ticket from the City of Chicago for not having a front plate. I take issue with this only because I live in Michigan where they only require one plate (since the 1970s). I was only visiting Chicago and parked on a street in the Lakeview area. My car is registered in Michigan, I carry MI no-fault insurance, my plates are MI, my driver's license is MI, and my permanent address is in MI. I can't even get two plates in MI anymore. Can I really be ticketed for not complying with an Chicago municipal law?

Thanks, Dave

If someone has been diagnosed with Lupus (A condition requiring
diligent protection from the sun) Can that person legally tint his or
her windows?

Dave

How do I get my dl back quicker?

Michael

Hello, Trooper Ness:

I got a ticket on Saturday for "not stopping long enough at a stop sign" - which implies that I had to have stopped, but that's not worth arguing about - it is what it is. The official violation is "Disobeyed Stop Sign". My questions are:

1.) The Cook County Sheriff's officer kept my license. I haven't had a ticket in nearly 16 years and was surprised he had to keep it. Did he have to keep it? It's my only form of photo I.D. and I'm worried about the length of time it's going to take to get back. I've read on some other postings that I shouldn't have had to surrender my license. Can you shed some light/offer advice on this?
2.) On the actual citation, along the left margin are a series of checkboxes for: "Bond Deposited". Nothing was checked. Should he have had to fill this out? This won't void the ticket, by any chance, would it?

Thanks for your time.


Jennifer

Hi,

Today I was ticketed while driving my four passenger (4 doors) Tundra Pickup with Disabled plates, because it was a 'truck.'
I am permanently disabled and have driven down LSD for more than 10 years !!!
This is the first time I was issued a ticket for being a 'truck.'...
I bought the truck due to a cervical 'fusion' suffered in an accident which does not allow for enough neck flexation to be able to get into a normal automobile.
I am encredulous at the amount of pickups that drove by me while I was being 'written up,' even after I explained to the officer that the mere presence of disabled plates on this vehicle classified it as a 'passenger vehicle' but to no avail...
I am hoping to have this nulled given the circumstances...
Please advise.
Thanks you
Al

Hi Randy,

A friend of mine who has a ¾ ton pick up truck was recently ticketed for not having emergency/safety equipment in
his truck (flares, fire extinguisher, flags and safety sticker). The officer told him that this is an obscure law that the state (Illinois) is now going to start to enforce, he uses his truck for business and personal use. I am asking because we have a ¾ ton pick up truck that is used for business and personal as well as a business van that is also a ¾ ton and I can not find any information on a law like this.

Can you help me find this information?

Thank you for any help you can offer,

Kari

Hello. I ran across your blog on the internet where I got your email address. I have a question for you regarding getting my FOID, but I am also a convicted felon.
I did apply for a FOID about 5 years ago and of-course was denied. I am wondering what the chances are of me ever getting one. I was convicted of a drug related offense around June 30, 1991, when I was 19 years old. I was immature and just plain stupid back then. I went to bootcamp for first time offenders down in southern IL. I have not been in any trouble since. I do not do drugs or associate with people who do. I have earned a B.S. in Computer Information Systems and have also taken several classes towards my MBA. I was married in September 2006 and am also a homeowner. I do not drink. I don't have any children yet. I have been working as a Client Programmer for a Marketing firm for about 9 years now. My conviction was about 16 years ago. I am not sure that I want to purchase any guns, but I would like to have my FOID in-case I do decide. The only reasons I would purchase a gun would be for home protection and to shoot at a firing range.
I am not sure of the appeal process, but I do recall receiving a letter when my FOID application was denied a few years ago that said to turn in letters of reference. The only problem I have with this is that I am new to my community and don't know many people, and I don't want to ask anyone at work. I do know a Police Officer and a retired Sheriff that would definitely give me a good reference if I were to ask them.
What would you recommend that I do if you think it's even possible for me to get a FOID ?
I really appreciate you taking the time to read this email.
Thank you very much.

Good afternoonTrooper Ness.

I have a question about the above subject. My wife was stopped this morning on her way home from work by an office with the Carol Stream police department. She was amazed, and so am I, that she was ticketed for having tinted license plate covers. We have had these covers on both of our vehicles for six years and this is the first incident anyone has even suggested that they are not valid. These covers are not darkly tinted. They are a very light gray.

I have asked other officers in the past if they saw anything wrong with the covers and none have indicated it was an issue. If they had, I would have changed them.

Is this evaluation an individual thing or are tinted covers of any kind strictly forbidden by law? I fully understand the concerns that law professionals might have if the covers were in place to hide our identity. They are not on the vehicles for that purpose. I simply have them to keep the plates clean so they will last longer, and because it looks good with the covers on.

I would appreciate your comments and any suggestions you might have on how this issue could be over turned.

Thank you.

Mike