Traffic Tickets

New interview with Associated Press on Illinois House Bill

March 13, 2012
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The Associated Press interviewed me for a story on March 10, 2012 about a bill proposed in Springfield that would make a significant change to the Illinois Vehicle Code. Read the article.
The story teaches a lesson about Illinois criminal law.
House Bill 5099, sponsored by Representative Jerry Costello, D-Smithton, would amend two sections of the vehicle [...]

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New seat belt law in Illinois could increase profiling in traffic stops

February 9, 2012
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Illinois lawmakers made a significant change to the vehicle code that is effective in 2012. Starting January 1, 2012, anyone who drives or rides in a motor vehicle in the state of Illinois will be required to wear a seat belt.
This was not always the law. Prior to 2012, a backseat passenger in Illinois was [...]

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New laws in Illinois increase penalties for speeding tickets

July 3, 2010
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The laws against speeding in Illinois got tougher on July 2, 2010 when Governor Pat Quinn signed a new law aimed at persons driving 100 mph or faster.
The law has two important parts:
Speeding 30 mph over the Limit is a Class B Misdemeanor
Speeding 30 mph in excess of the limit is no longer a petty [...]

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The penalty for driving without insurance in Illinois increased in 2010

May 22, 2010

Insurance laws in Illinois are tough. Every driver on the road must have a liability insurance with coverage of at least $20,000.00 per person for bodily injury as a result of an accident. Failure to carry insurance has serious consequences.
Driving without insurance is a petty offense in Illinois. The statute citation is 625 ILCS 5/3-707. [...]

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The Secretary of State can suspend a person’s driver’s license for certain offenses

May 13, 2010
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The law in Illinois says that the Secretary of State has authority to suspend a person’s driver’s license upon a report of a conviction for certain offenses.
The information is reported to the Secretary of State by the Circuit Clerk for each county courthouse. The clerk’s computer system is linked with the Secretary of State and [...]

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What is the law on texting and driving in Illinois?

April 11, 2010
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The legislature passed a law in Illinois in 2009 that prohibits texting while driving. The law went into effect on January 1, 2010. The law is set forth in the Illinois Vehicle Code at 625 ILCS 5/12-610.2.
The statute prohibits more than just texting, however. A driver cannot text, instant message, email, or surf the web [...]

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I had an accident and now I have a traffic court date. Is a guilty plea going to affect my insurance?

April 8, 2010

A driver who is ticketed after a motor vehicle accident is confronted with two important issues:

How will the ticket affect the person’s driver’s license?
Will the ticket have consequences for that person’s insurance?

The issue of whether the traffic ticket will result in a suspended or revoked license is addressed in other articles in this site. This [...]

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What is the law on failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident in Illinois?

March 28, 2010

After a traffic accident, the person who the police officer believes is at fault will get a ticket for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.
Failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident is a petty offense. A petty offense in Illinois is punishable by fine only, with a maximum fine of $1,000.
This ticket [...]

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I got a speeding ticket in Illinois. What is the fine, and will it suspend my driver’s license?

March 20, 2010
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Many people believe they can pay a speeding ticket and the matter is taken care of. However, a speeding ticket can result in driver’s license suspension. Under certain circumstances, a speeding ticket can cause a revoked license. In almost every case of a suspension or revocation, it sneaks up on the driver.
For example, the driver [...]

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I got arrested for street racing. What is the sentence for this offense under Illinois law?

March 17, 2010
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Street racing is a criminal offense in the Illinois Vehicle Code, and the penalties can be very serious. The law is 625 ILCS 5/11-506, and it provides that it is illegal to engage in street racing on any highway in the state of Illinois. A highway is generally any public road.
It is also against the [...]

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