Chicago Traffic Tickets: Types of Tickets You Can Get

Types of Traffic Tickets You Can Receive in Chicago

Receiving a traffic ticket can be a costly and frustrating experience.

Law enforcement issues various tickets in Chicago, including traffic tickets, parking tickets, speeding tickets, and reckless driving tickets.  By hiring an experienced traffic ticket lawyer, you can increase your chances of getting the ticket reduced or dismissed altogether.

Traffic Ticket

Police officers issue traffic tickets to those violating traffic laws. A traffic ticket usually results in a fine (around $100 on average).

Every ticket is a pre-printed sheet of instructions on what the ticketed person must do to satisfy violating the law. Usually, the ticket will show an available court date and time to appear before the judge.

The ticketed individual usually has two options: pay the ticket or request a trial. If ‘’no court appearance required’ is marked on the paper, the traffic case may be disposed of by mailing in a check to pay the fine.

A typical traffic ticket for a simple law violation is considered a civil infraction, not a criminal offense. In this circumstance, no points are assessed against the driver’s license, and the conviction will appear on the driving document (if any) exactly as if it was a speeding ticket.

A final review involving a traffic ticket does not include a hearing.  This is sometimes hectic for people, because they may feel cheated by the process. However, it’s best to remember that this policy exists for everyone’s benefit.

Speeding Ticket

Police officers issue speeding tickets to those who are driving too fast in an area where speed limit laws apply. Speeding can result in a fine or a court appearance. Speeding tickets usually have a corresponding fine amount.

In most cases, if the police officer caught you speeding with an electronic device, then you must appear in traffic court to fight your case or pay the ticket before a certain date that is listed on the citation. If the deadline has passed and you failed to follow up on your case, then by law, you have pled guilty to the speeding charge.

Reckless Driving Conviction

A reckless driving conviction is subject to points assessed against your driver’s license with a court appearance required instead of just paying the traffic ticket. The judge will issue a notice of traffic offenses/conviction that includes the following: information on fines and fees, and possible jail time (if applicable).

If you’re facing a criminal charge for driving recklessly, you’ll likely face harsher consequences than if you’re charged with civil speeding. You should contact an experienced traffic ticket attorney to help reduce or dismiss the charges.

Getting a Traffic Ticket While Driving in a Construction Zone

A construction zone is typically designated with signs and cones. Driving through a construction zone while the crew is working places you at risk of getting injured and putting the lives of other workers in danger.

Obeying construction zone laws saves lives. If a court appearance is required to resolve the ticket, you will likely need to take time off from work.

Online Traffic Ticketing Portal

Data shows that in 2019 alone, state and local agencies employed 965,000 individuals who were authorized to issue traffic citations nationwide. An app on a smartphone or tablet can allow users to record when they receive a traffic ticket quickly.

Users can review the legal code of what they were ticketed for and quickly search online to determine whether it is a legitimate charge. If so, users can pay the ticket immediately through the app.

Talking to Your Attorney Before Admitting Fault

It’s advisable not to pay for the ticket before talking to your defense attorney to protect your legal rights. If you are guilty of a serious violation, paying off the fine may result in an increased penalty later on.

Our Traffic Attorney Coverage Areas

Our traffic lawyer covers all of Illinois, including in the following areas: Illinois Rolling Meadows, Elmwood Park, Lake County, Dupage County, and Cook County.

Driving With a Suspended or Revoked License

Driving with a suspended or revoked license is a serious violation after the court took your driving privilege away from you due to a traffic violation or other infraction of the law.

Driving on a suspended or revoked license is illegal in all states and can create legal trouble. You could lose your license even with a simple infraction like a speeding ticket where your driving privileges are revoked.

Driving Record

A person’s driving record will list any history of convictions for moving violations or license suspensions. The record could affect their ability to keep a driver’s license and the insurance rates if they are charged and found guilty or pled guilty.

Drivers approaching a bus unloading children must come to a complete stop and wait until the bus begins moving. In the case of a funeral procession, or any other unusual obstruction on the road, you may drive around it in either direction unless directed otherwise by a police officer.

Traffic Violations

The most common traffic violations are:

• Speeding
• Reckless driving
• Driving while intoxicated [DWI / DUI]

The insurance rates of drivers are based on both the frequency of their infractions and their severity.

Our defense attorney can offer you legal representation if you are facing the following charges, disregarding a stop sign, the apparent violation of traffic law,  having a court date, or a court appearance as required.

Traffic Violation of Traffic Rules

Representing clients relieves the ticketed individual of the time and stress of resolving the violation without help. In many cases, the defendant loses a case simply because they do not have the time or ability to contest the charge.

Your valid driver’s license will be revoked if you are caught driving with a suspended license.

However, if you plead guilty, you might reduce the number of points on your driving record. You shouldn’t plead guilty without first consulting with a Chicago traffic lawyer who could win your case.

In addition, a red light violation will not result in a suspension or revocation of driving privileges. Red light violations carry fines and court costs but no jail time.

In Illinois counties, including Cook County, petty offenses are not considered crimes under state law but are violations of county ordinances. Therefore, petty offenses are not reported to the Illinois State Police.

Moving Violation

A moving violation is a traffic offense that usually involves a motor vehicle, and it is defined as a violation of traffic laws, such as speeding or failure to obey a traffic sign or signal.

Paying the Fine

If you pay for your ticket within 35 days, you’ll get a 10% discount on the original fine. You can do this in person or by mail.

Illinois Secretary of State

The Illinois Secretary of State is authorized to suspend a person’s driver’s license for several reasons, including but not limited to a conviction of driving under the influence.

Child Protective Measures on the Road

The state legislature passed the Child Passenger Safety Act in 2002 to improve child safety when riding in a motor vehicle. The Act was put in place to reduce the number of children who are injured or killed when riding in a car.

A driver is responsible for obeying all traffic laws and allowing only one passenger 21 years of age or older, who holds a valid license, to be in the front seat. The only exception to this rule is if there is no room in the front seat because a child under age 8 who weighs 40 pounds or more is occupying the front seat.

A Conviction for a Traffic Offence

A conviction on your record for driving with a suspended license or driving with no insurance can be costly. You may find yourself paying court costs and fines, spending time in jail, or losing your vehicle.

A favorable outcome on a red light camera ticket requires that you first admit guilt on the issue of the charge.

The onus is then on you to convince the court that they should exercise discretion to dismiss the ticket. This is done by establishing that the offense did not occur or that you are innocent. A favorable outcome on a red light camera ticket requires that you first admit guilt.

Similarly, a favorable outcome on a speeding ticket requires that you admit guilt on the issue of the charge. You then must convince the court to exercise discretion to set aside the conviction and dismiss the fine, which is often done by establishing that you were not speeding as charged or that you are innocent despite receiving a speeding ticket.

Appending your signature does not amount to the liability of the alleged violation; it’s a commitment to pay the required fine or show up in court.

The defendant must be found not guilty if the prosecution team cannot prove beyond reasonable doubt that an incident occurred. Pleading guilty in a traffic court before consulting a lawyer is not wise.

More serious offenses regarding traffic rules in a criminal court include the following:

• Driving under the influence (DUI)
• Hit and run
• Aggressive driving

Failure to obey a traffic citation in a driver’s license suspension case is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $200.00 and 90 days in jail.

Usually, the driver’s license suspension is imposed because of suspension for some other action, such as accumulating too many point violations on your driving record or getting too many moving violations.

Appearing in Court

Are you required to appear in court for a traffic violation? If so, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with your options.

Should you be required to appear in court for traffic offenses in Chicago, it is crucial to know what kind of traffic tickets you have been given to prepare the appropriate defense.

You may be subject to court supervision due to traffic tickets if you’re caught speeding, running a stop sign, or another similar offense. The mandatory driving classes can be difficult, but they are not the only punishment for Chicago traffic tickets.

Your driving privileges are immediately suspended once you are convicted of several traffic violations.

The court may recommend community service if you are found guilty of certain traffic offenses such as improper passing of a school bus. However, community service is not a substitute for fines or costs.

If you fail to appear in court, the court supervision officer will issue a Warrant of Arrest against you.

You will not be entitled to court supervision if you are charged with driving under the influence or being a pedestrian under the influence. Similarly, the court supervision will be out of bounds for you if you have been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony within the last ten years.

Minimum Fine for a Traffic Offense

Traffic violations require a minimum $100 payment if someone is convicted of impaired driving offenses for the first time. Three moving violations within 18 months will result in an automatic license suspension. The first court date scheduled for a traffic ticket will usually set the tone of that ticket’s future.

Reprieve for Traffic Offences

You can avoid a conviction on your record and related auto insurance increases by taking traffic school. Some courts will allow you to take traffic school for certain infractions once every twelve months.

Suppose you qualify and would like to take traffic school. In that case, the American Safety Council Traffic School is a nationally recognized online course that will keep your driving record clear of traffic violations.

In 2006, Illinois became one of the first states to sweep away community service in minor offenses. Now the state Senate is considering a proposal to reinstate it.

For petty traffic offenses, the traffic offender may be placed under court supervision, whereby he is required to attend traffic safety school.

Hiring an Experienced Chicago Traffic Lawyer to Defend You

It can be very stressful if you’ve been pulled over by the police and charged with a traffic violation. You may not know what to do or how to handle this situation.

Hiring an experienced Chicago traffic lawyer to defend you is the best way to ensure that your rights are protected and that you receive the best possible outcome.

An attorney can help you avoid jail time and fines that will affect your future employment opportunities as well as your ability to drive legally in Illinois again after serving time behind bars for driving under the influence (DUI).