Pulled over. Arrested. Illinois drug possession charges. Case dismissed.

 

This client was a young man in his twenties from Grayslake, Illinois. Officers from the Round Lake Park Police Department arrested the man on April 20, 2006.

 

He was driving his car when they pulled him over for not wearing a seat belt. In the past, Illinois law specifically said it was against the law for the police to pull over a motorist for not wearing a seat belt, if that was the only reason for the stop. The state legislature later amended the law, which now says that the police may lawfully pull over motorists who do not wear safety belts.

 

 

No-seat-belt is the number one law that allows for racial profiling and discrimination. It is the most petty of offenses, and you see it used all the time as a pretext to get people that are minding their own business and not bothering anyone." - Lewis Gainor

 

As to be expected, the police pulled over this young man because of the way he looked. The police made assumptions about the man because of his appearance that he was a drug user. The Round Lake Park police officers searched his automobile and found marijuana and a pipe.

 

Lewis Gainor consulted with his client and reviewed the case. If the case were to go to trial, the man would certainly be found guilty of possessing the contraband. So, Lewis Gainor filed a motion to have the case thrown out.

 

The matter went to a full evidentiary hearing. The police officers were placed under subpoena and required to explain their actions. Lewis Gainor demanded that the entire hearing be transcribed onto a record.

 

The prosecution objected to Lewis Gainor's request for dismissal, and argued to the judge. The court heard Lewis Gainor's argument and threw the case out.

 

September 12, 2006. Case dismissed.