The number of speeding tickets given to motorists has dropped quite a bit recently, going from 210,000 in 2010 to 127,000 in 2015. In 2016, the police issued slightly over 100,000 in our state. Despite this drop, traffic tickets are still an everyday occurrence.
If you have gotten a traffic ticket, call a traffic ticket lawyer and keep reading.
The Point System
Illinois, like most states, uses a type of point system. But unlike many other states, the point system in Illinois is modified, and generally does not suspend or revoke your driver's license when a certain point total is merely reached. Instead, the points are tabulated to determine the length of your license penalty only when or if you accumulate a certain number of moving convictions over a certain period of time.
Moving Violations in Illinois
As you may have been able to tell by the name, a moving violation is generally when someone violates a traffic law while their vehicle is in motion. Such tickets would include speeding, running a red light, or driving under the influence. You can find a more comprehensive list here.
These offenses are in contrast to non-moving violations, which are usually related to automobile equipment that is in a broken or non-functioning condition, license plate issues or such. So sometimes, your car may be in motion, and the ticket that is issued will be for a non-moving violation like excessive muffler noise or mandatory insurance issues.
If you are dealing with a ticket for a moving violation or a non-moving violation, you can’t just ignore it. Some offenses require an appearance in court, while others can be paid by mail. But even in circumstances where the offense can be handled through the mail, doing so may not be the very best idea. That is because almost any such ticket, once paid, will be reported to the Illinois Secretary of State and as a result, will likely appear on your driving record.
License Suspensions
According to Illinois law, your license might be suspended if you commit three or more moving violations within a twelve month period, when over the age of 21. When under 21 years of age, our laws indicate that it only takes two such convictions over a two year period to result in a suspension. The Secretary of State processes this information and then decides whether the incidents warrant suspending or revoking your license.
When you get a traffic ticket, you may feel the need to just pay it off and be on your way. Although sometimes supervision can be accomplished by mail, other times this will instead result in a conviction. Even if you think it is not a big deal, it could be. We previously touched on this in our blog post about hiring a lawyer to fight traffic tickets, but we would like to drive the point home here.
Repeat DUI charges can also cause serious trouble for you. If you want to get an idea of what a sentence might be under certain circumstances, check out our DUI sentence calculator.
If you have been issued any type of traffic ticket, it is usually a very good idea to contact a traffic ticket lawyer. Experienced attorneys often have the ability to get your tickets reduced or even dismissed.
Our legal team can help. Call the lawyers of Mitchell S. Sexner & Associates LLC today at (800) 996-4824.
