April 2007 Archives

Mst. Sargeant Ness I am a twenty nine year old male who has done some things in my past that I am not proud of . I am currently seeking executive clemency. Is it even possible for someone of my past if given clemency to work for or become involved in law enforcement work? This has been my dream since I was little. I'm just afraid I screwed it all up when I was seventeen and was charged with felony burglary. Any help you could give is greatly appreciated and please tell your troopers that keep up the good work and stay safe. Jason

I was stopped last week by a state trooper at one of those safety stops and because I am rarely stopped I have to say he was not nice either. He walked up to my car and asked me for my DL. I asked for what he said he could ask for my DL because his name was on the top without telling what I did. When I first starting driving my moons ago I was stop for the first time by a Chicago police man he asked for my DL and I did not ask any questions and I just gave it to him. Then he came back to the car to ask a questions and he said you know I am writing a ticket I said no he told me that I cut thru a gas station to avoid a light I said no I didn't I got gas and at the time I charged gas with my fathers credit card so I showed him the receipt and then he said don't give up your DL unless you know what you did because I would have given you a ticket for something I throught you did but didn't, So what gives them the right to ask for your DL without telling you the reason they want it.
Sincerely,
Debra

I got a ticket for driving on lake shore driving in my 2001 Ford F150 . My question is when I see a sign in Illinois (interstates, freeways or tollways) that says anything about Trucks. Does that include a B class licensed truck. Example trucks speed limit 55? Also does lake shore drive really have a law that includes B class (pickups) can not drive on lake shore drive?
Thanks for expertise and time
Craig

Officer Ness,

My name is Ethan and I am a new resident of Illinois. Based on an event that occurred today, I have a window tint question for you.
We purchased a 2006 Toyota Camry when we lived in Missouri (interestingly enough, we purchased it from an Illinois dealer). We had the dealer use its after-market contacts to put leather and tint on this vehicle. We had tint applied to all windows of the vehicle and a small strip along the top of the windshield. This was in accordance with Missouri law.
We moved from Missouri to Illinois in October, 2006 because I got a job which required our relocation. We switched over the registrations of our vehicles from Missouri to Illinois and received new tags for those vehicles.
Earlier today, my wife got pulled over while driving the Camry and received a ticket for unlawful window tint. From what the officer cited in his ticket and what I was able to find on the Internet, I believe the following is an excerpt of the Illinois vehicle code that was violated:
"(625 ILCS 5/12‑503) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 12‑503)
Sec. 12‑503. Windshields must be unobstructed and equipped with wipers.
(a) No person shall drive a motor vehicle with any sign, poster, window application, reflective material, nonreflective material or tinted film upon the front windshield, sidewings or side windows immediately adjacent to each side of the driver. A nonreflective tinted film may be used along the uppermost portion of the windshield if such material does not extend more than 6 inches down from the top of the windshield. Nothing in this Section shall create a cause of action on behalf of a buyer against a dealer or manufacturer who sells a motor vehicle with a window which is in violation of this Section."
I have read and understand (to some degree) what this code says. I also understand based on what I have read that the only "exceptions" to this code include 1)motor vehicles manufactured prior to January 1, 1982, 2)to those motor vehicles property registered in another jurisdiction, and 3)medical conditions (most of which I can't pronounce or copy accurately to this e-mail).
Based on the above, it would seem that we have no choice but to remove the tint from the front windows (driver and passenger side) that are "immediately adjacent to each side of the driver". Is this your assessment as well? Before taking a razor blade and ruining in a few minutes what it took a few hours and hundreds of our dollars to create, I wanted to check with the authorities on this.
Hopefully you can understand my frustration with this situation. I didn't violate any laws when purchasing my vehicle, nor did I know at that time that we would be transferred to Illinois. I do understand the safety concerns associated with window tinting and know that each state takes different precautions to protect its citizens. I just hate to throw money down the drain.
Any assistance, clarification, or empathy you could provide would be appreciated.
Sincerely,
Ethan

I just got pulled over for tinted license plate covers. I know I will have to pay the fine, but my question is if they are illegal in Illinois. Why are they sold in all the store like Wal-mart, Autozone and etc... Shouldn't all the store take the cover off their shelves so people don't buy them and get a ticket because they didn't know they are illegal in Illinois.

Good Day sir,

Thank you for assistance.
Chris

I am wondering how I can check the law in my city? Just got a ticket in
NYC for plate cover and never heard of this before. I live in an adjacent
city and want to find out what the deal is. I'm driving my son's car and
asked him why he has it and he said he has no idea. I guess the dealer
must have put it on a couple of years ago. How's a body to know??
Any info would be appreciated.

I have a 2001 Dodge Stratus and was pulled over by an Illinois State Officer for not having a front license plate. The Officer asked would I like to take care of the fine now or later - I wasn't too sure what he meant - but thought he was giving me a ticket & an envlope and that I would have to send in a check for the fine. I said I would mail it in. He said this would not go on my record, gave me a receipt and KEPT my Driver's License. Is that appropriate???? He said that when I send in my money I would get my drivers license back.
I really have never heard of such a process AND - if I was to take care of it then and there - was I going to be paying the Officer? Sounds a bit illegal to me.