traffic ticket

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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New 2010 expungement law in Illinois changes eligibility and waiting periods

June 5, 2010
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State lawmakers changed the law for the expungement process in Illinois significantly in 2010. The new changes impact the eligibility of thousands of persons who have either a conviction or supervision in their background. Under the new law, the process is generally the same. The person seeking to expunge or seal a court record of [...]

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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 [...]

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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
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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 [...]

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

March 28, 2010
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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. [...]

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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 [...]

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I got a ticket for driving without a valid driver’s license. What are the penalties in Illinois?

March 17, 2010
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Driving without a valid driver’s license in Illinois is not just a traffic ticket. It can be a criminal offense. The law is set out at 625 ILCS 5/6-101, which provides that it is against the law to operate a motor vehicle on a public highway in Illinois without a license, permit, or restricted driving [...]

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

March 17, 2010
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A ticket for disobedience to a signal indicating the approach of a train is based on the Illinois statute 625 ILCS 5/11-1201. The law provides that a motorist is not always required to stop at railroad tracks, but must always exercise due care. There are five conditions that require a driver to stop before railroad [...]

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I have a CDL and got a traffic ticket. Can I get supervision?

March 11, 2010
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Court supervision is the preferred disposition of a moving violation for almost anyone with a traffic court date. Supervision is not a conviction and thus it does not put points on your license. Although many traffic court judges advise defendants that after the supervision, the ticket will not be on their driving record, this is [...]

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How many times can I get court supervision for traffic tickets in Illinois?

March 11, 2010
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Court supervision is the minimum sentence in Illinois and allows the charge(s) to be dismissed after a period of time and compliance with certain conditions. For most traffic law offenders, court supervision is 60-120 days (two to four months), but the standard is 90 days (three months). The court will usually sentence the defendant to [...]

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