Speeding Ticket

When you get a speeding ticket, you probably think that it’s an inconvenience. Many people dislike appearing in traffic court or paying higher insurance premiums. However, you may not know that you face severe potential consequences. If you are charged with breaking high-speed traffic laws, you could face up to a year in jail in Greenville, IL. It’s known as aggravated speeding, and the state has raised the consequences for drivers found guilty or who plead guilty of these charges.

What’s the Current Law?

There are two types of traffic laws, petty and misdemeanor, that impact aggravated speeding charges. Driving over 26mph over the speed limit is a misdemeanor that qualifies as a crime in Illinois. There are two types of aggravated speeding — Class B covers speeds 26 to 34 mph over the posted limit, while Class A refers to speeds up to 35mph or more over the limit. Under the law, penalties range from court supervision accompanied by a fine to jail time and a possible criminal conviction.

Penalties for Aggravated Speeding

Petty speeding offenses of less than 25 mph over the posted limit are not criminal offenses. This means you won’t go to jail for breaking these traffic laws. If you’re charged for speeding between 26 to 34 mph, you may face up to six months in prison and fined up to $1,500. Drivers charged with aggravated speeding of 35+ mph could go to jail for 12 months and pay up to $2,500.00 in fines. The defendants also pay court fees.

In contrast, petty offenses, such as speeding in a school zone, cost Illinois drivers $150 plus court fees with no court supervision. Construction zone speeding costs at least $375 plus court fees.

Other Penalties

Other penalties imposed may include up to three years of community service plus online or in-person Traffic Safety School. In addition to the penalties already described, there are license implications that may apply as well.

Court Supervision

Court supervision sounds scary but is a favorable outcome. Some offenses are not eligible for this outcome, including:

• Speeding while I’m in a school zone
• Excessive speeding well in an urban area
• Aggravated speeding is a second offense
• Two sentences that resulted in court supervision in the last year

License Consequences

If you are found guilty of speeding, your driver’s license may be at risk. Aggravated speeding offenses put 50 points on your license. For drivers under 21, two convictions in two years result in a license suspension. Those over 21 face the same fate for three convictions within a year. After 110 points, your driver’s license is revoked for at least one year.

Contact the Law Offices of Michael J. Diaz to set up an appointment to discuss your traffic law or aggravated speeding case today. We fight to lower your penalties and help you avoid jail time.

Texting and Driving

If you’ve ever texted while driving or been tempted to text while operating a moving vehicle, think twice about your decision. Bond County, IL motorists, can cause accidents with injuries and property damage by making a rash decision, such as removing their eyes from the road for even a second. Looking down at a phone is akin to traveling the length of a football field with your eyes closed. You cannot know what is going on in front of you. If you fix your eyes on the phone, you’re clutching in your hands.

So, what is House Bill 2386? How does it pertain to you as an Illinois resident? To better understand what it’s all about, we’ve included a description of it below for you to review.

What is House Bill 2386?

House Bill 2386 passed 82-24 in the House and 41-0 in the Senate. It enforces stricter punishments for people who cause bodily harm, disfigurement, or death in a texting and driving accident. The secretary of state can suspend or revoke a motorist’s license for up to 12 months and charge a $1,000 fine for the offense.

Anyone caught texting and driving could pay $75 for the first offense, $100 for the second, $125 for the third, and $150 for each offense following. Three moving violations in a year can cause the state to suspend your driver’s license. Avoiding the danger that comes with texting and driving is in the best interest of you because it makes it easier for you to react to the motorists you share the road with safely.

Familiarizing yourself with House Bill 2386 can help you better understand the law on texting and driving. You’ll know what constitutes citations and the fines incurred for a moving violation. If you needed an incentive to turn your phone off and focus on the drive ahead of you, now you have one. Preventing accidents and damage to your vehicle and other motorists’ properties is imperative in Bond County, IL.

Contact the Law Offices of Michael J. Diaz for Further Guidance

If you’re still not sure how the bill pertains to you, call or email the Law Offices of Michael J. Diaz today. You’ll be able to speak to a legal expert right away. Learning more about texting and driving citations in Bond County, IL, prepares you and your family for changes in the law and the penalties it carries.