Round Lake Branch Court

SEXNER’S PRO LEGAL TIP: A common type of ticket heard at the Round Lake Branch Court is a speeding citation. For a long time in Illinois, speeding tickets were all “petty offenses”, which means a violation that is not punishable by jail, regardless of the circumstances. Even if a driver had 100 previous speeding tickets in the last year, once upon a time in Illinois, a judge was without power to sentence such a person to jail because the Illinois Vehicle Code didn’t provide for a sentence of jail for regular speeding tickets.

But some years ago, Illinois changed its laws and created two new classes of speeding tickets. The first is a Class B misdemeanor which allows a judge to sentence someone up to six months in jail if the speed was 26 to 34 miles per hour over the speed limit. The second class is a Class A misdemeanor that allows a judge to send someone to jail for up to a year when the speed is 35 or more over the posted speed limit.

Because these “aggravated speeding” tickets provide for the possibility of jail, judges will generally tell a defendant who comes to court without a lawyer to come back another day and bring a lawyer with him or her. That’s because these matters are serious and may adversely affect a person’s criminal record and traffic record. So, it is generally a good idea to consult with an experienced lawyer before the first court when charged with such a high speeder.

But don’t worry. Just because a ticket allows for a jail penalty doesn’t mean that you’re actually going to go to jail. Very few people actually go to jail for a speeder unless their traffic record is very, very bad. Our attorneys can review your driving record and tell you what will likely happen on your particular case.