petty offense

I got a ticket for passing a stopped school bus. What are the penalties provided by Illinois law?

December 20, 2021
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NOTE: The information below was changed to shed light on Illinois legal changes with passage of Public Act 101-55. Once this Act became effective on January 1, 2020, the penalties for passing a stopped school bus became more severe. A ticket for failing to stop for a school bus can be expensive and suspend your […]

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

September 10, 2021
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NOTE: The information below was refreshed to clarify the effect of Public Act 101-0623, which became effective on January 1, 2020. Since that date, Illinois law no longer supports driver’s license suspension for non-moving violations, such as a failure to pay fines. Many people believe they can pay a speeding ticket and settle the matter […]

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What is the penalty for failure to stop at a railroad crossing in Illinois?

August 31, 2021
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NOTE: This page was refreshed with supplemental content to clarify how Public Act 99-663 adjusted Illinois state law. After this Act became effective on January 1, 2017, the Illinois penalties increased for failure to stop at a railroad crossing. A ticket for disobedience to a signal indicating the approach of a train is based on […]

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The penalty for driving without insurance in Illinois increased in 2010

August 16, 2021
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NOTE: The material below was updated to account for changes to Illinois law with passage of Public Act 99-613 (effective January 1, 2017) and Public Act 100-202 (effective January 1, 2018). After these Acts became effective, there were several changes to Illinois laws that address driving without insurance in Illinois. Driving without insurance Vehicle insurance […]

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625 ILCS 5/11-907: Illinois Penalties for Failure to Yield for a Parked Emergency Vehicle

May 22, 2020
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NOTE: The following page features updated material to account for Public Act 101-0173 and corresponding Illinois legal changes. Since January 1, 2020, this Act escalated the punishment for violations of 625 ILCS 5/11-907, more commonly referred to as Scott’s Law. Illinois law requires all drivers to yield to emergency vehicles on the side of the […]

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Theft of lost property: not a criminal offense

February 11, 2020
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NOTE: This article was updated to reflect 2020 changes in Illinois law with passage of Public Act 101-0394. These changes became effective on January 1st, amending the Illinois statute governing theft. Most people who are accused of theft suffer through feelings of anxiety and fear about the outcome of their case. For defendants charged with […]

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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 31 mph over the Limit is a Class B Misdemeanor Speeding 31 mph in excess of the limit is no […]

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