How Traffic Violations Can Impact Your Livelihood

Receiving a traffic ticket in Illinois is annoying, and it can be tempting to pay the ticket online and move on with life. But paying a ticket means you are pleading guilty, and when you have multiple violations, pleading guilty to them can impact your life and work. Learn more below, and if you have numerous traffic violations, our traffic violation lawyer in Mount Prospect may be able to assist you.

Understanding Illinois Point System For Traffic Violations

Under Illinois law, if you are 21 or older, your driver’s license can be suspended if you get three moving violation convictions in one year. If you are under 21, your driver’s license will be suspended if you get two moving violations in two years.

Speeding 1-10 MPH over the limit is the most common violation worth five points. If you get 15 to 44 points in one year, your driver’s license will be suspended for two months.

Not being able to drive can be a problem for most Illinoisans. If you rely on your car to do your job, such as sales or delivery services, you could lose your job because of traffic violations.

How Traffic Tickets Affect CDL Holders

Do you have a commercial driver’s license (CDL)? Illinois CDL holders may be disqualified from driving commercially if they plead guilty to two ‘serious’ traffic violations within three years. CDL disqualification means that your driving privileges are suspended. In most cases, you can still drive your private vehicle, but you must figure out another way to make a living during the suspension period.

The Secretary in Illinois can suspend your CDL for at least 60 days if you get two traffic tickets in any three years. You will get at least a 120-day CDL suspension if there are four severe violations in three years. Some of the violations that count towards CDL qualification include:

• Reckless driving
• Texting and driving a commercial vehicle
• Using a handheld cell phone while driving a commercial vehicle
• Speeding 15-25 MPH over the limit
• Exceeding the speed limit in a school zone
• Exceeding the speed limit in a construction zone
• Improper lane usage
• Following too closely

Furthermore, if you are convicted of a ‘major disqualifying offense’ in your commercial or private vehicle, you can lose your CDL for at least one year. A second major disqualifying offense leads to a lifetime ban. Some of the convictions that count for these purposes are:

• DUI in any vehicle with a BAC of .08 or higher
• Operating a commercial vehicle with a BAC of .04 or higher
• DUI
• Declining to take a breath test
• Leaving an accident scene
• Felony offense with a motor vehicle
• Negligent driving a commercial car causing a fatality

Contact Our Traffic Violation Lawyer In Mount Prospect

If you receive a traffic ticket in Illinois, paying the ticket without considering the options is usually a mistake. Instead, consider fighting the ticket with the help of an attorney. They may be able to get the ticket dismissed or reduced to a lesser charge. Contact our traffic violation lawyer in Mount Prospect at Villadonga & Villadonga Attorneys at Law at (847) 298-5740.