Illinois Traffic Ticket Suspension

Illinois Traffic Ticket Suspension

Drivers 21 Years of Age or Older

Traffic ticket convictions can result in the suspension or revocation of your Illinois driver’s license by the Secretary of State. Illinois drivers 21 years of age or older face a driver’s license suspension for three (3) moving violation convictions within one year (issued within any rolling 12-month period).

Unlike many other states, the number of moving violation convictions (i.e. three) causes a license suspension rather than the number of points associated with the individual violations. However, points are used by the Illinois Secretary of State to determine the length of a driver’s license suspension or whether a driver’s license revocation will be imposed. The number of points vary depending on the nature of the violation and are set forth in the Illinois Administrative Code. Points range widely depending on the offense. For example, drivers are assessed 5 points for speeding 1-10 mph over the posted limit, but 50 points for aggravated speeding 26+ mph over the posted limit. More information on the Illinois traffic ticket point system is available here.

Drivers Under the Age of 21

Illinois drivers under the age of 21 face a license suspension or revocation for two or more moving violation convictions within two years (any rolling 24-month period). Additionally, if a driver under the age of 21 has been previously suspended, an additional moving violation conviction after the end of the suspension, but before the driver turns 21, will re-suspend or revoke his or her driver’s license. Drivers under the age of 21 are held to a higher degree of responsibility when it comes to traffic violations.

Automatic Driver’s License Suspensions

It is important to understand that certain traffic offenses result in an automatic driver’s license suspension even if you have a clean driving record. For example, a conviction for passing a stopped school bus or driving without valid insurance triggers an automatic 3-month license suspension.

Removing an Illinois License Suspension

If your Illinois driver’s license has been suspended or revoked for too many moving violations, the traffic attorneys at The Davis Law Group, P.C. may be able to help. Often, drivers will pay traffic ticket fines by mail, online or fail to pay the fine altogether. Mailing in payment or paying a traffic ticket online often results in the entry of a conviction on your driving record. In addition, ignoring a traffic ticket may result in an ex-parte judgment, failure to appear, or bond forfeiture conviction being entered against you by the judge. Convictions may be entered for other reasons, such as failing to complete traffic safety school that you requested or that was ordered by the judge.

Our traffic attorneys may be able to file a motion to vacate and remove one or more of the convictions on your driving record. By reopening your case and bringing it back in front of the judge, we may be able to remove the moving violation conviction. If successful, this procedure allows us to completely remove your driver’s license suspension with the Secretary of State. If action is taken immediately upon receipt of your ‘Notice of Suspension’ from the Secretary of State, it may be possible to clear the license suspension before it ever goes into effect.

In fact, this strategy may avoid the lengthy and complex process of requesting a driving permit through an administrative hearing with the Secretary of State and paying costly reinstatement fees. As an additional benefit, this will often help significantly reduce your insurance rates.

Contact Our Traffic Attorneys

The Chicago driver’s license attorneys and traffic attorneys at The Davis Law Group, P.C. represent clients throughout Illinois including Cook County, Lake County, and DuPage County. Our professional and knowledgeable defense lawyers have decades of combined experience in Illinois traffic law. We can review your driving record and notice of suspension to determine the available options and best strategy. Contact us today so we can help clear your Illinois driver’s license suspension or revocation.