A speeding ticket in a work zone (e.g., construction zone) is an expensive offense under Illinois traffic law, and can result in a suspended driver’s license. The law is set out in the state vehicle code at 625 ILCS 5/11-605.1.
The law provides that a ticket for speeding in a work zone has a mandatory fine of $375 on the first offense and $1,000 on the second. The offense is not criminal. Driving faster than the speed limit in a work zone is a petty offense, and thus it is not punishable by imprisonment.
The speed limit must be posted upon approach of the work zone and the sign must show the amount of fine.
A second offense of speeding in a work zone within 2 years will cause the Secretary of State to suspend the person’s driver’s license for a period of 90 days.
The law allows the Illinois State Police to set up camera enforcement of work zones on the highway and mail tickets to offenders. See 625 ILCS 7 et seq. The requirements for work zone speeding tickets by mail are, among other things, the following:
- a sign warning motorists about the use of photograph enforcement must be posted
- the ticket must have been mailed within 14 business days of the offense
If the ticket was mailed to the vehicle owner and the photograph shows someone else driving the car, then the owner must respond in writing, under oath, as to who was driving the vehicle.
