Illinois uses a demerit point system, meaning, if you get convicted of any type of traffic offense then points are attached to your driver’s license. While these points might seem meaningless to you, they can actually have some consequences. For example, if you receive enough points your driver’s license could actually be suspended. If you get convicted of a speeding ticket, which would mean you just pay the fine for the ticket, your insurance premiums could raise costing you way more in the long run. For Illinois speeding tickets, these are the points attached to your driver’s license when you’re convicted of a speeding ticket: 

• Speeding 1 to 10 mph over limit – 5 points
• Speeding 11 to 14 mph over limit – 15 points
• Speeding 15 to 25 mph limit – 20 points
• Speeding 25+ mph over limit – 50 points

In Illinois, speeding tickets can have various consequences. Even if you’re not from Illinois, a speeding ticket or other traffic citation can affect your driving record in other states. 

The different types of Illinois Speeding Tickets are as follows:

1 to 20mph over the limit – This is a standard petty speeding ticket. If you were to just pay the fine, the standard fine amount would be $120
21 to 25mph over the limit – This is also considered a petty speeding ticket. If you were to just pay the fine, the total would be $140
26 to 34mph over the limit – While this is a speeding ticket, it is actually a Class B misdemeanor and can carry up to 6 months in jail and a $1,500 fine! This is not a petty speeding ticket. It is an actual criminal offense. Examples of other Illinois Class B misdemeanors would be Possession of Cannabis between 10g to 30g and criminal trespass to property.
35mph+ over the limit – Anything over 35mph is a Class A misdemeanor and can carry up to one year in jail and a maximum of $2,500 in fines! A 35mph+ speeding ticket is a serious criminal charge. Examples of other class A misdemeanors in Illinois would be a first-time DUI offense or domestic battery. If you’re facing a class A speeding ticket do not take it lightly. These tickets can also sometimes be up-charged to a reckless driving offense.

We’ve compiled a list of how many traffic cases were filed in each of the Southern Illinois counties we handle traffic tickets in. Here’s the traffic data from 2018 through 2020:

For most drivers, a normal speeding ticket or other traffic violation will not suspend your driver’s license. However, there are some Illinois traffic tickets that will trigger a suspension of your driving privileges.  Some examples of these tickets are:

• Driving Without Insurance
• Failure to Yield to Emergency Vehicle / Scott’s Law Ticket
• Passing a School Bus Receiving or Discharging Children
• Operating a Motor Vehicle Without a Valid License or Permit
• Any Motor Vehicle Theft (Misdemeanor or Felony)
• Driving During a Suspension or Revocation Period
• Failure to Report an Accident
• Fleeing or Alluding
• Driving a Commercial Vehicle Without a CDL
• DUI

You may also have your license suspended or revoked due to too many moving violations within a 12-month period. When a driver has three or more offenses that are committed within any 1-year time frame, depending on the point designation to each offense.

For drivers under the age of 21, two or more offenses within a 24-month period will lead to a suspension or revocation depending on the severity of the points.

For a Complete List of All the Illinois Traffic Offenses that suspend your driving privileges, visit the Illinois Secretary of State’s publication here.

If you received a court date for Illinois traffic ticket and you missed your court date, a few things could happen. Many people’s first instinct is that they are going to go to jail. Missing a court date for a traffic ticket in Illinois does not automatically mean the judge issued a warrant for your arrest, in fact, a vast majority of the time that isn’t the case. A majority of drivers with court dates are there for what are known as “petty offenses.” Normal speeding tickets would be an example of these.

When a driver misses court for a petty offense, a judge will usually do one of two things:

1. They will have the Circuit Clerks Office of the county send you a Notice of Appearance through the mail. This Notice is assigning you a New Court date for missing your first court date.
2. The judge may also enter an ex parte judgment against you. In essence, an ex parte judgment means the court has found you guilty in your absence and you will be ordered to pay the fine. This means you are being convicted of the traffic offense.

If the judge does have to issue an ex parte judgment against you, then a traffic lawyer can assist you by filing a “Motion to Vacate” and having the case re-opened. Oftentimes, there is a filing fee associated with a Motion to Vacate. For most tickets in Southern Illinois it is generally $40.

If your ticket was a misdemeanor offense and you miss your court date, a judge may have the clerk send you notice to appear, however, a judge will more than likely issue a warrant for your arrest.

If a judge has issued a warrant for your arrest don’t panic. An attorney can assist you by filing a “Motion to Quash Warrant.” A vast majority of the time in traffic offense cases the State will agree to quash the warrant and the judge will not have a problem with it.

While many drivers are tempted to just pay their Illinois Speeding Ticket, they should seriously reconsider that.

According to a recent study, the true cost of a speeding ticket in Illinois can be as much as $1,124. The analysis found that a 40-year-old driver with a speeding conviction in Illinois can expect to pay 27.5% more for full coverage car insurance. 

For younger drivers, the increase in insurance rates would be even higher. According to the study, a 25-year-old driver on average would pay an additional $1,092 over three years.

According to an article on Allstate Insurances website, which can be found by following this link, they acknowledge that if you get a speeding ticket it will increase the amount you pay for car insurance due to the perception that you’re at higher risk of an accident because of traffic violations on your driving record may affect the cost of your insurance.

If you do in fact receive an Illinois speeding ticket you should consider reaching out to our Southern Illinois Traffic Lawyers for a Free Traffic Ticket Evaluation to discuss your options and how we can help you avoid an increase in your car insurance rates.