If you’ve gotten an Illinois speeding ticket or multiple speeding tickets, you may need an attorney’s assistance to help you avoid points on your license or costly fines. Here, the Law Offices of Andrew Nickel explain everything you need to know.
Illinois Speeding Ticket
Speeding in Illinois can be expensive. Illinois has set fines that scale with the speed at which you’re caught. While these fines were increased in 2010, they still do not represent the greatest hit to your wallet if a police officer pulls you over for speeding. The amount you’ll wind up paying in increased insurance rates is a lot more irritating – and more costly – because it continues month after month.
Illinois Speeding Ticket Points
The state of Illinois uses a point system for traffic violations. The variety of points assigned to your license depends on the seriousness of the offense. A lot of points, from one or numerous offenses, can lead to a suspended license.
Here are the points assigned for speeding at various rates:
- Speeding 1-10 mph over the posted limit: 5 points
- Speeding 11-14 mph over the posted limit: 15 points
- Speeding 15-25 mph over the posted limit: 20 points
- Speeding over 25 mph over the posted limit: 50 points
In addition, there are points assigned for various other offenses while driving.
- For squealing or screeching tires, 10 points are assigned to your license.
- For exceeding the maximum speed limit in a construction zone when workers are present, 20 points are assigned to your license.
- Driving too slowly on a highway can earn you 5 points.
- Aggravated speeding in a school zone can result in 55 points, all at once.
If you are convicted of 3 or more offenses that lead to points being assigned within a year, your driver’s license will be suspended.
Speeding violations can increase your vehicle insurance rates and even lead to the suspension of your license based on added to your driving record. If you get a speeding traffic ticket in Yorkville, Kendall County or as far away as Chicago and Cook County, the Law Offices of Andrew Nickel can help.
How Much Is a Speeding Ticket in Illinois?
In 2010, Illinois increased its fines for speeding tickets considerably. Different offenses can now lead to fines that are even 60% more expensive than they were at the start of the 2000s.
Illinois Speeding Ticket Fines
If you are driving anywhere from 1 to 20 mph over the limit, expect a $120 fine. Speeding 21-30 miles per hour over the limit will likely lead to a fine of around $140.
Driving 26 to 34 miles per hour over the limit is considered a Class B misdemeanor and can bring approximately 6 months in prison and a maximum of $1,500 in fines.
Speeding 35 miles per hour or more over the limit is considered a Class A misdemeanor. This consequences for this increase from the previous set of punishments. They include up to one year in prison and a maximum of $2,500 in fines.
Fines can be much more serious in certain locations or conditions. For example, fines in school zones and work zones are higher. If you are caught speeding in a work zone, you’ll get a minimum fine of $375 and a mandatory appearance in court.
Pay Speeding Ticket Online Illinois
Depending on the kind of speeding ticket you got, if the ticket doesn’t require you to appear in court, you are able to pay your ticket fines online, by mail, by phone, or personally. The ticket will have instructions on how to pay the fine in addition to the payment time restrictions. You should note that paying the fine is considered an admission of guilt, and the offense will go on your driving record.
However, even if you plead guilty, it’s likely you’ll have to pay an additional charge on top of the fine you sustain. These additional charges differ by location, so you’ll require to get in touch with the court associated with the ticket to find out the accurate expense.
Make sure to react to your traffic ticket within 15 days, or you might deal with extra charges, such as a license suspension. Ticket information for Yorkville can be found through Kendall County Online Court Records.
If you want to challenge your speeding ticket in Yorkville, IL, contact the Law Offices of Andrew Nickel to explore your options.
Class B Misdemeanor Illinois Speeding
Driving-related offenses can be categorized as violations, misdemeanors, and felonies. Many driving-related offenses are categorized as violations or infractions.
Typical traffic violations include speeding, failure to yield, failure to use turn signals, driving a vehicle without adequate lighting, and running a stop sign or red light. The “violations” category is used for some of the least serious driving-related infractions.
However, some driving-related offenses are considered to be crimes and are categorized as either misdemeanors or felonies. This includes Class B misdemeanor Illinois speeding, which is usually charged when drivers are clocked at 26 to 34 miles per hour over the speed limit.
Speeding Misdemeanor Illinois
Some traffic offenses that would usually be categorized as violations can be raised to criminal offenses. For example, speeding, which is typically a violation, can become a misdemeanor if a person drives more than 80 miles per hour or goes beyond the speed limit by 20 miles per hour or more. This becomes a crime because the chances of injuring another person increase at these high rates of speed.
Felony Speeding Illinois
Traffic offenses that are usually misdemeanors can be categorized as felonies in some cases. A misdemeanor rises to a felony for subsequent convictions or if the offense includes home or property damage, injuries, death, or other aggravating aspects.
Some examples of driving-related violations that are categorized as a crime include:
- DUI Illinois – driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Driving while suspended or revoked,
- Reckless driving,
- Hit-and-run,
- Vehicular homicide.
DUI is generally a misdemeanor. However, it can be a felony if the driver has previous DUI convictions, or the offense includes injuries or death.
Driving while suspended or revoked is a misdemeanor if the culprit’s license is suspended as a result of a DUI conviction. But, it’s a felony if the suspension is because of the conviction for vehicular homicide.
The classification of a hit-and-run offense depends on whether the accident led to injuries or death to another individual or just damage to residential or commercial property.
Reckless driving is generally a misdemeanor. In some states, it’s a felony if the driver has previous careless driving convictions, or injury or death to another individual resulted from the reckless driving offense.
Vehicular homicide can also be a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the circumstances.
If you have been charged for a misdemeanor in Illinois, seek the help of qualified and aggressive lawyers like the ones at the Law Offices of Andrew Nickel.
Speeding Ticket Illinois
Illinois’s speeding law prohibits driving “at a speed which is greater than is reasonable and proper with regard to traffic conditions and the use of the highway, or endangers the safety of any person or property.”
The state of Illinois also has absolute speed limits. Driving faster than the absolute speed limits means you are violating the law. For example, Illinois’s absolute speed limits include:
- 70 mph on interstate highways,
- 30 mph on urban district roads,
- 20 mph in school zones.
Speeding Ticket in Illinois
A speeding violation might lead to a reckless driving conviction, depending on the circumstances. If someone is killed while speeding, reckless homicide charges are possible.
The repercussions of reckless driving in Illinois are severe, particularly when there are injured people in the offense. If you have been charged for reckless driving in Illinois, get in contact with the Law Offices of Andrew Nickel so you can decide how to handle your situation.
Illinois Traffic Lawyer
The minute the law enforcement officer approaches your vehicle, your defense against speeding charges starts. Any declarations you make can end up being a part of the court procedures. It is essential to be polite and truthful. However, try not to provide more information than required.
You don’t have to agree with the officer’s evaluation. Still, it is in your best interest to comply with reasonable demands. If you think that the charge was a mistake, get in touch with a lawyer to assist you in developing a strong defense.
Illinois Traffic Attorney
Illinois traffic cases are heard in circuit courts. When choosing a traffic attorney, pick one who has experience with traffic court. Have in mind that the Illinois courts will decline ignorance as a defense.
Find an experienced traffic lawyer with an excellent track record of defending drivers against speeding convictions. A traffic lawyer can assist you in choosing the best defense method based upon the unique circumstances of your case.
You can also assist your lawyer in building your defense. For example, you can write down your statement in detail immediately, take pictures of the area, take notes about the conditions on the road, the weather, etc.
If you need a traffic attorney in Illinois, reach out to the Law Offices of Andrew Nickel. Their attorneys will do everything in their power to help you.
Illinois Traffic Court
Some traffic offenses require a court appearance. If this applies to you, the date will be set by the officer. Pay careful attention to the date when the speeding ticket was issued. Under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 504, if the date of the first court appearance is less than 2 weeks or more than 60 days after issuance, your ticket can be dismissed.
However, you still have to appear in court for the initial date. Then your lawyer can request the dismissal of the speeding ticket.
Court Supervision Illinois Speeding Ticket
Courts in Illinois allow for court supervision. This means that if you comply with the court supervision requirements, a driving offense conviction will be kept off your record.
If you are over 21, you have the right to request court supervision without appearing in court, unless your speeding ticket states that a court appearance is mandatory.
If you want to be eligible for court supervision, you must not already be under court supervision or have a conviction for a moving violation within 1 year prior to the issuance of the ticket. In addition, you have to plead guilty, pay the fine, and adhere to the requirements of the ticket. You also must not receive another ticket within 90 days of the offense.
If you don’t adhere to the court supervision requirements or if you get another moving violation ticket within 90 days of when the court supervision was allowed, the offense will appear on your driving record.
Illinois Traffic Ticket Court Appearance Required
Court appearances are mandatory for some driving offenses, such as DUI, reckless driving, and driving a vehicle without a valid driver’s license. Felony offenses such as traffic violations where death resulted are typically heard in criminal court, not traffic court.
You have to appear in court if you are charged with more than one moving violation on your ticket. Despite that, you might still be eligible for court supervision.
Furthermore, drivers younger than 21 have to appear in court. Drivers under 18 must appear in court accompanied by parents or a guardian.
If you have to appear in court because of a traffic violation, lawyers at the Law Offices of Andrew Nickel can help. Contact them and schedule your free consultation.