What to Do After Getting a Speeding Ticket in Illinois
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Illinois speeding tickets can be costly in terms of fees, higher car insurance premiums, and penalties on your driving record. It pays to understand Illinois speeding ticket laws if you receive Illinois traffic tickets for speeding or another traffic citation.
This guide to Illinois speeding ticket points and traffic violations explains how to pay fines, contest a citation, get a point reduction, and avoid rate hikes while maintaining your driving privileges.
What To Do Immediately After Receiving a Speeding Ticket in Illinois
If you have recently received traffic tickets for going above the posted speed limit or other common ticket violations in Illinois, you can choose to pay the fine or contest the ticket.
Review the Ticket Details
Make sure you carefully review the traffic citation to verify that all stated information is correct. If there is an error, let the officer who pulled you over know immediately.
Know Your Deadlines
Note the deadlines for payment or contesting the citation. You will generally have 21 days to contest a traffic ticket. Tickets generally start at $120 for more minor traffic offenses and can reach $2,500 for more serious speeding and multiple tickets.
How To Pay Your Illinois Speeding Ticket
Different counties have different options when it comes to paying for a ticket for speeding in Illinois. You can look up your county's regulations by searching for the Circuit Court with jurisdiction over the traffic violation location.
Payment options may include mail, payments made in person, or online payments such as what's offered by Cook County.
Options for Contesting a Speeding Ticket in Illinois
If you choose to contest your Illinois speeding ticket, you should:
- Indicate that you are pleading not guilty and contesting the ticket on the ticket itself, then return it to your local court. The ticket will include contact information.
- You will then need to attend the scheduled traffic courts' hearing and present your case. You may wish to obtain legal advice or support. Bring evidence such as photos or witness statements.
Illinois Traffic Court Procedures for Speeding Tickets
Illinois traffic court allows you to contest a speeding ticket and share your side of the story. Naturally, traffic courts are designed to support traffic laws, so it helps to have supporting evidence for your case, if possible.
Make sure you pay close attention to the date and time of your proceeding, and arrive at least 15 minutes early. Whether you have an attorney or not, the judge will call your case and give you the opportunity to explain why you should not have received a speeding ticket.
The judge may choose to reduce or waive the fine for speeding, or you may still be required to pay it in full.
Impact on Driving Records and Points System
Not surprisingly, a string of speeding tickets can negatively impact your driving record and even lead to license suspension.
How long is a speeding ticket on your record? It will typically remain on your driving record for four to five years.
You may also accumulate more points on your record, which can lead to additional penalties.
How Points Are Assessed
The smaller the infraction, the lower the points assessed. For example, here is how points for speeding tickets work in Illinois:
- 1-10 mph over the limit: 5 points
- 11-14 mph over the limit: 15 points
- 15-25 mph over the limit: 20 points
- 26-34 mph over the limit: 50 points
- 35 mph or more over the limit: 50 points
- Speeding in a school or construction zone: 20 points
- Aggravated speeding: 55 points
Consequences of Accumulating Points
If you accrue too many points in a short period of time, your driver's license may be suspended or revoked. Typically, if you receive 10 to 34 points, you will earn a one-month suspension. If you reach 65 points, that can lead to a year-long suspension.
Point Reduction Options
Points typically drop off your record after two to five years. Contesting a ticket can also help you avoid points, and some judges will accept completion of traffic safety school to keep points off your driving record.
How Speeding Tickets Affect Car Insurance Rates in Illinois
As you might expect, speeding tickets as well as reckless driving and driving under the influence charges can all significantly increase your car insurance premiums. You can contact your insurance company and determine if you can get a defensive driving insurance discount or take advantage of other offers, such as a specified period of good driving will bring those rates back down.
It is important to understand how license points affect insurance in Illinois, and that you always need proof of insurance to drive in Illinois.
Compare Car Insurance Rates After a Speeding Ticket
Clearly, it is wise to compare car insurance rates and options following a speeding ticket. EverQuote offers free custom quotes for valid insurance, which only take a few minutes. You can then compare car insurance rates and options side by side to find the best option following a speeding ticket.
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