Speeding is a rather common traffic offense in Illinois and throughout the United States. It is easy to speed, because in many cases, a person does not even realize they are going over the speed limit. Traveling over the speed limit may seem like a victimless offense, but according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), speeding killed more than 9,700 people in 2017 alone, or around 26 percent of all people killed in traffic accidents that year. Because of the danger speeding poses, Illinois laws can be rather serious when it comes to punishing violators. Any person who speeds is technically breaking the law, but those who have a commercial driver’s license (CDL) may face other consequences that could potentially damage their careers.

Speeding Laws in Illinois

If you are driving a designated amount over the speed limit, you may face criminal charges. These speeding laws are the same whether or not you hold a CDL. If you are going 26 mph or more over the posted speed limit, but not more than 35 mph over the limit, you can be charged with a Class B misdemeanor. This means you will face up to six months in jail and up to $1,500 with a minimum fine of $75. If you are caught going 35 mph or more over the posted speed limit, you can be charged with a Class A misdemeanor, meaning you will face up to one year in prison and up to $2,500 in fines.

We have all gotten into arguments with our loved ones before. When disagreements escalate to the point where one person fears for his or her safety, the police can intervene, and domestic violence charges may be pressed. Domestic violence is estimated by the National Domestic Violence Hotline to affect more than 12 million people each year. It can occur between parents and children, siblings, spouses, or people in romantic relationships who live together. Accusations of this type of violence can involve a variety of alleged behaviors, including physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. One tool that is frequently used in domestic violence cases is an order of protection, and a person who is subject to this type of order should understand what it may entail and the potential consequences for a violation.

What Is an Order of Protection?

An order of protection is a court order that can prohibit a person from doing certain things, and it may also compel a person to meet certain requirements. For example, a person accused of domestic violence may be ordered to stop any contact with their alleged victim, or one partner involved in a domestic dispute may be required to leave their shared residence.

Traffic violations are not uncommon. Millions of people each year are issued citations and tickets for breaking traffic laws. Most of the time, these tickets just require the driver to pay a specified fine. In some cases, the driver may have to appear in traffic court to settle the issue. In other cases, a police officer might perform an arrest at a traffic stop if he or she believes the offense was serious enough. One such charge that warrants an arrest in the majority of cases is reckless driving, which is considered a misdemeanor charge in Illinois. But what exactly does the offense of reckless driving mean? 

Examples of Reckless Driving

According to the Illinois Vehicle Code, reckless driving occurs when a person does one of the following actions:

Driving while you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol is never a good idea, and there are many consequences you can face for this serious crime. Not only do you face criminal penalties for a DUI, but you can also face administrative penalties, which can and typically will be added onto any criminal penalties. If you are arrested for DUI and test over the legal limit for alcohol or drugs, you face an automatic suspension of your driving privileges by the Illinois Secretary of State, all without even needing to be convicted of a crime. You can fight a statutory summary suspension of your driver's license, but you will need help from an experienced attorney.

What Is a Statutory Summary Suspension?

Basically, a statutory summary suspension is the administrative penalty that the Illinois Secretary of State imposes in DUI cases. If you fail a chemical test or refuse to take a test after being arrested on suspicion of drunk driving, you will be subject to a statutory summary suspension. These penalties are completely separate from any criminal penalties that you may face for DUI-related reasons. 

If you receive a traffic ticket while driving in the state of Illinois, the police officer who issued the ticket will tell you if you are required to appear in court to settle the ticket. If you are not required to appear in court, you will have three options:

1. Plead guilty, pay the fine, and receive a conviction on your record.
2. Plead guilty, pay the fine, attend traffic safety school, and forego a conviction.
3. Plead not guilty and request a trial.

If you request a trial, or if the officer informed you that you must attend a court date, you are legally required to do so. If you forget about your court date, or if you simply decide not to show up, you could face more severe consequences.

Consequences for Fine-Only Violations

If you receive a fine-only violation, and you ignored the ticket, or if you requested a court date and then did not attend that court date, both the judge and the court will not appreciate this waste of their time. The judge will almost always enter what is called an ex parte conviction (meaning the judge will sentence you guilty, even though you were absent) and require you to pay the fine.