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How Traffic Violations Can Lead To Serious Charges

traffic violations

Driving in Illinois is a privilege, and traveling the roads comes great responsibility. If you are pulled over for a traffic violation or a more serious offense, it can have a negative impact on your life. Whether it is a DUI, reckless driving, or speeding ticket, understanding the potential consequences can help you avoid problems. If you were charged with a traffic violation recently, a traffic violation attorney in Illinois can represent you and fight the charge so it has minimal effect on your future.

How A Traffic Violation May Affect Your Record

A moving traffic violation can directly affect your driving record and may eventually lead to a license suspension or revocation if you have too many offenses. For instance, if you receive a traffic violation for speeding or reckless driving, penalty points will be automatically assessed to your record. Your license could be suspended if you get three or more moving traffic violations in a year. The number of points on your license determines how long the suspension will be.

You have admitted guilt for the offense when you decide to pay the fine for a moving violation, even for a minor ticket. Admitting guilt will affect your driving record for up to five years, and the penalty points will stay on your record for that time. The police may not tell you this when they give you a ticket, and you could mistakenly believe that a minor traffic violation will not affect your record.

Collateral Consequences Of A Traffic Violation

If the traffic ticket is for a more severe violation, serious consequences can occur. A DUI, for example, can result in jail time and a driver’s license suspension. You can have difficulty getting or keeping a job if you are convicted of DUI. The employer will probably run a background check on you and look for arrests and convictions. A first-time DUI conviction is a Class A misdemeanor, and your license can be suspended for up to one year.

What Are The Consequences Of a Speeding Ticket?

Driving over the speed limit is an Illinois traffic offense, and the penalties for speeding depend on how fast you were traveling and whether you have a previous record. Speeding ticket fines in the state are:

  • Driving one to 20 miles per hour over the limit: $120 fine and five to 20 penalty points on your license.
  • Driving 21-25 miles per hour over the limit: $140 fine and 20 penalty points.
  • Driving 26-34 miles per hour over the limit: $1,500 fine and up to six months in jail, plus 50 penalty points.
  • Driving 35 miles per hour over the limit: $2,500 fine and up to one year in jail, plus 50 penalty points.

Contact Our Traffic Violation Lawyer In Illinois

Were you recently pulled over for a traffic violation? Depending on the circumstances, you could face consequences that affect your freedom and driving record. Contact our traffic violation lawyer in Illinois at Villadonga & Villadonga. Our attorneys can stand up for your rights and fight the charge. For a legal consultation, please call (847) 298-5740.

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How Traffic Violations Can Impact Your Livelihood

traffic violation

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.