Summary Suspension Hearings and Warnings to Motorists: Sorting It All Out

Registration deadline: November 10, 2021 

PURPOSE OF COURSE: This 8-hour course was created by Jennifer Cifaldi, the Illinois Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor. This program was developed with the intent of providing law enforcement and prosecutors with the knowledge and skills to successfully use the proper Warnings to Motorists and remove the impaired drivers from our Illinois’ roadways. They will receive training on all the Warning to Motorist forms, DUI-Case Law, Court Room Testimony, Summary Suspension hearings and understanding Illinois Driver's Abstracts, as well as Case Law. This training will assist officers in correctly filling out all the Warning to Motorist forms, writing DUI reports and understanding the DUI law in general including the 2020 Cannabis DUI update to help them navigate their way through DUI courts. They will understand what the notations mean on abstracts to be able to enhance DUI charges to the felony level. 

COURSE GOALS: By the end of this course, students will be able to do the following:
•    Understand the various Warnings to Motorist and know under what circumstances each Warning should be utilized Know how to amend defective reports 
•    Understand the various Warnings to Motorist and know under what circumstances each Warning should be utilized
•    Know how to amend defective reports
•    Navigate through a DUI Cannabis investigation
•    Successfully defend Petitions to Rescind Statutory Summary Suspensions
•    Cite the relevant case law
•    Be better prepared to testify at Summary Suspension Hearings and DUI trials
•    Have a better understanding of how to interpret information on driving abstracts
This class will instruct you on the various Warnings to Motorists used for the Illinois implied consent law. The officer will be able to recognize which Warning to read depending on the facts presented. The officers will understand how to utilize the new Cannabis DUI Warning to Motorist and appreciate the differences between it and a standard DUI Warning to Motorist. They will know how to amend their sworn reports and will also know how to assist the Prosecutor in the courtroom with effective testimony during the summary suspension hearings to avoid having the suspension rescinded. Additionally, they will be provided with tips on how to write a bulletproof report and how to interpret Illinois driving abstracts. 

Instructor: Jennifer Cifaldi is the Illinois Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor and is employed by the University of Illinois at Springfield through a grant from the Illinois Dept. of Transportation. She has held this position since October of 2016. Prior to that, Jennifer served as an Assistant State’s Attorney in Adams County, Illinois for 20 years, prosecuting traffic cases at both the felony and misdemeanor level. She also was an adjunct professor at Hannibal LaGrange University for their advanced degree program in Criminal Justice.

In 2007, Jennifer developed a DUI No-Refusal search warrant model that has now been adopted as the standard for Law Enforcement agencies and Prosecutor Offices across Illinois. She has conducted numerous training sessions on the topic for law enforcement personnel, as well as other prosecutors. Additionally, she has instructed at numerous ARIDE programs and at DRE school. 

In the spring of 2018, she worked with Macon County, Illinois to implement forensic phlebotomy for Illinois officers. Jennifer worked with the Buffett Foundation to organize the first ever phlebotomy training by arranging for five officers, a dean from Richland Community College and herself to travel to Phoenix, Arizona and attend the forensic phlebotomy training that Arizona has been utilizing for over 20 years. She is now working with RCC to begin offering classes to Illinois law enforcement officers to become phlebotomists. 

In 2016, Jennifer was the recipient of the National Traffic Safety Prosecutor of the Year award. She was also the recipient of the MADD Hero award in 2011 for her work on prosecuting DUI cases. And in 2014, she was awarded the 2014 Murphy Leadership award for her vision, execution and relentless effort to eliminate impaired driving and underage drinking. 

Jennifer earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Law and Society from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana in 1993 and her Juris Doctorate from Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Indiana in 1996. She resides in Quincy, Illinois with her husband and son.

This course has been certified by the ILETSB and approved to meet the following mandates:

    ☒    Civil Rights            
    ☒    Constitutional & Proper Use of Law Enforcement Authority    
    ☐    Cultural Competency        
    ☐    Drug Recognition Expert
    ☐    Epinephrine Autoinjector (EpiPen)    
    ☐    Human Rights
    ☐    Lead Homicide Investigator        
    ☒    Legal Updates
    ☐    Mental Health Awareness        
    ☐    Officer Wellness
    ☐    Opioid Antagonist (NARCAN)        
    ☐    Procedural Justice
    ☐    Psychology of Domestic Violence    
    ☐    Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect            
    ☐    Sexual Assault Investigator Training    
    ☐    Sexual Assault Trauma Informed Response
    ☐    Use of Force (must include scenario or similar approved training)

To receive a State Certificate / training credit for the above listed mandates, no more than 10% of the course hours can be missed.

THIS IS NOT A PUBLIC MEETING