Our client was charged with DUI after a traffic stop conducted by a Cook County Sheriff’s Police Officer on Rand Rd. Our client failed to signal turning left and crossed over the lane dividers on two separate occasions. The Officer testified that our client had a strong odor of alcohol coming from his breath and that his eyes were red and bloodshot. An HGN test (one of the standardized firld sobriety tests) was offered to our client and he participated in that test. After the DUI investigation, our client was placed under arrest for DUI and transported to the Cook Cointy Sheriff’s Police Department where our client refused the breath test. Upon cross-examination, Mr. LaScola thoroughy questioned the Officer regarding the HGN test and pointed out numerous defects in the way this Officer conducted this field test on our client. He also noted many other weaknesses in the State’s case through his thorough examination of the Officer. At the close of the State’s case, Mr. LaScola did not need to call any witnesses or present any evidence, knowing that the State failed to meet their burden at that juncture. After arguments from both sides, the Judge ruled that our cliet did fail to signal, but found him NOT GUILTY of both the Improper Lane Use and, most importantly, NOT GUILTY on the DUI!!!
