Defendant was convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol and was sentenced to 12 months of conditional discharge. On direct appeal, defendant argued that the trial court erred when it denied his motion to suppress because the arresting officer lacked a reasonable and articulable suspicion to conduct an investigatory stop. The appellate court affirmed, holding that the officer had a reasonable basis to conduct the stop based on, among other things, defendant’s high speed and erratic driving, stumbling out of the vehicle, and an inability to walk from his vehicle to a gas station without assistance and the fact that the officer followed the defendant for three miles before stopping him was not material. (McLAREN and JORGENSEN, concurring)
Illinois Appellate Court
Criminal Court
Traffic Stop