Many people think speeding is not that big a deal. While certain speeding offenses are only charged as minor traffic violations, in some cases, speeding can become a significant misdemeanor offense. While other drivers may zoom by you on the expressway, maintaining a reasonable speed keeps you, your passengers, and other drivers safer.

In Illinois, when your speed reaches a certain number of miles per hour over the posted speed limit, it can be considered aggravated speeding, which is a serious crime in Illinois. If you face charges of aggravated speeding, it is important you understand the charges and their potential consequences.

When you see flashing red and blue lights in your rearview mirror and you realize they are flashing for you, it can be a sickening, sinking feeling. Being pulled over by police can be an intimidating experience, even if you have no reason to be worried. It has been proven that most people will do what a police officer tells them for the sole reason that the officer is wearing a uniform, even if they do not believe it is the right thing to do. It is extremely important to remember you do have rights when you are pulled over by a police officer.

Rights When Speaking to Police

Most people have heard about the right to remain silent, but is that always your best option? Sometimes, if a police officer is asking you questions, it is not in your best interest to keep quiet. The right to remain silent is intended to keep you from self-incrimination, but there are other ways to do that. If an officer begins to question you, try answering their question with a question, such as, “Did I do something wrong?,” or, “Am I free to leave?” 

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: