The winter holidays are generally the busiest time of the year for road travel. According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), an estimated 54 million Americans traveled for the Thanksgiving holidays in 2018, with 48.5 million of those people traveling by road. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that in 2017, 5,667 fatal crashes involving 14,199 people occurred in November and December alone. 

There are certain factors that Illinois state police have attributed to these fatalities, and these are referred to as the “fatal four:” speeding, DUI, distracted driving, and seat belt usage. Getting a ticket for any of these traffic violations can mean hefty fines and, in some cases, more serious punishments like driver’s license suspension or even jail time.

Speeding

Illinois police will be on the lookout for those who are speeding during the holiday season. Speed is one of the biggest factors in fatal crashes, which is why speeding is taken very seriously, especially if you are going more than 25 mph over the speed limit. If you are caught going 26-35 mph over the speed limit, you will be charged with a Class B misdemeanor. If you are caught going more than 35 mph over the speed limit, you will be charged with a Class A misdemeanor.

Traffic laws were put into place for a reason - to keep everyone safe while they are in and around motor vehicles. When someone violates these traffic laws, it can be dangerous for everyone involved, but if they violate traffic laws when driving through a work zone, the results can be deadly. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, there were 6,741 crashes in Illinois work zones in 2016. In those accidents, 765 people were killed, and around 1,893 people were injured. 

Construction zones usually mean that there are more people near the road working, but drivers are actually more likely to become victims of construction zone crashes than workers. Illinois has some of the strictest construction zone traffic laws in the country, so it is important that you follow the rules for the sake of yourself and others.

1. Vehicle Occupants Are More Likely to Be Victims in Construction Zone Accidents

From 2013 to 2017, there were a total of 177 work zone accident fatalities in Illinois. Contrary to what you might think, the majority of those fatalities were not construction workers. In fact, only six workers were killed in construction zone collisions, meaning the other 171 deaths were drivers, passengers, pedestrians, or bicyclists.

Most states have some kind of points system that affects people’s driver’s licenses. The points systems work like golf--the fewer points you have, the better off you are. Every time you are convicted of a traffic offense, you will not just receive a citation--you will also gain points on your driving record. Each state’s system works differently; some states require you to gain a certain amount of points before action is taken, but others, like Illinois, only stipulate that you must commit three offenses before your license is penalized. Too many traffic violations could result in a license suspension or revocation, which can make life difficult for you.

Illinois’ Points System

The Office of the Illinois Secretary of State has developed a points system in which a driver accumulates a certain number of points each time they are convicted of a moving violation. The number of points that are assigned depends on the specific law that was violated, and the more severe the violation, the more points are assigned. If you are convicted of three or more offenses within 12 months, you could face a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license. Typically, when you hit that three-offense mark, a judge will make a determination regarding punishment depending on the number of points or the severity of the laws you violated.

High-Point Traffic Violations

Here are 10 of Illinois’ traffic violations that carry the most points:

When you are driving, the last thing you want to see is red and blue lights flashing in your rearview mirror. Being stopped for a traffic violation is no fun for anyone, and depending on why you were stopped, you could be facing serious consequences. Your quick trip to the grocery store could end up being a long process of fighting a traffic ticket. You can get cited for multiple traffic-related offenses in Illinois, and if you do end up getting a traffic ticket, here are four things you should know:

1. There Are Different Types of Violations

In Illinois, traffic tickets can be one of two types: a moving violation or a non-moving violation. A moving violation occurs when a law is broken while you are driving your vehicle. Examples of moving violations include:

• Speeding.
• Running a red light or stop sign.
• Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
• Not using turn signals.
• Failing to yield.

Non-moving violations typically involve parking or something wrong with your vehicle. Examples of non-moving violations include:

The majority of drivers in the United States will experience being pulled over by police at least once in their lifetime. With flashing lights behind you and a feeling of sinking dread in your stomach, being pulled over can be an anxiety-ridden experience. If you have never gone through a traffic stop before, you may not know what to do, and when we do not know what to do, we resort to instincts, which may not always be proper actions. Knowing what you should and should not do when you are pulled over by police may just prevent you from getting a costly traffic ticket.

1. As soon as you see an officer flash his lights or sirens at you, you should begin to slow down and pull off on the right-hand side of the road. If there is no shoulder on the road, or it is too narrow to stop on, you should put your hazard lights on to signal to the police officer that you acknowledge that he is pulling you over and find a safe spot to stop.
2. Once you are stopping, you should remain in your vehicle. Do not get out of your vehicle unless the officer asks you to do so. If you do get out of your vehicle, the officer may see this as aggressive behavior and a threat to his or her safety.
3. You should roll your window down completely and place both hands so they are visible on the steering wheel. This allows the officer to see exactly what you are doing.
4. When the officer reaches your window, he or she will ask for your license, registration, and proof of insurance. If you do not have these documents readily handy, you should tell the officer that you are reaching to your glovebox or underseat compartment to get them.
5. You should answer any of the police officer’s questions in a polite and truthful manner. Even though you may be upset you are pulled over, you should be respectful to the officer.
6. If the stop results in a ticket or an arrest, you should not argue with the police officer over why you were stopped or be uncooperative with the officer’s instructions. If you are being pulled over because of suspected DUI, you should comply with the officer’s request for chemical or field sobriety tests.
7. Even if you believe the issuance of a ticket was unfair or unwarranted, you should not argue with the officer over the ticket. You will have the chance to present your side of the story at traffic court and explain why you think the ticket was unfair.

Get Representation from an Arlington Heights Traffic Ticket Defense Attorney

If you have ever been pulled over by police before, you know how upsetting it can be. You could follow all of these tips, do everything right and still be issued a ticket. If you have been issued a ticket for a serious traffic offense, it could adversely affect your driving record and carry a fine or even a possible license suspension. Getting a traffic ticket means that you should get immediate help from a Cook County traffic ticket defense lawyer. Scott F. Anderson, Attorney At Law, can help you plead your case in traffic court and fight to prevent a conviction. Call the office at 847-253-3400 to set up a consultation.