Chicago Traffic Lawyer

If you receive a speeding ticket or other traffic violation, you will usually be required to pay a fine by a certain date, or you may go to court to contest the ticket. If you do not pay the fine on time or appear in court, your driver's license may be suspended, your vehicle may be towed and impounded, or the court may even issue a warrant for your arrest. Additional fines and penalties will also apply for any amounts that are past due.

All drivers are required to maintain liability insurance on their vehicles, and proof of insurance should be carried in a vehicle at all times. If you are pulled over by a police officer or are involved in a car accident, and you do not have proof of insurance, you may receive a traffic violation for driving while uninsured, and your car's license plate may be suspended. Driving will uninsured can result in a $500 fine, and driving a vehicle with suspended license plates can result in a $1,000 fine.

If you receive a traffic violation, a certain number of points will be added to your driving record. If you receive three or more violations within a 12-month period, your driver's license will be suspended. The length of the suspension will depend on the number of points on your record. The points for a specific violation will remain on your record for 12 months after the date of the violation.

After receiving a traffic ticket, many drivers may feel that they have no choice but to pay the fine. However, this can lead to unintended consequences. By paying the fine, you essentially plead "guilty" to the violation, and this can lead to increased insurance rates, points on your driving record, or even a suspended or revoked license. To avoid this, an attorney can help you find out whether you can contest the violation. Your lawyer may be able to question the evidence against you or negotiate reduced charges to help you minimize the penalties you may face.

Drivers must have a valid driver's license to be able to drive legally. If a person's license has been suspended or revoked because of multiple traffic violations, DUI, or other issues, they must have their license reinstated before they can get back behind the wheel. Driving with a suspended or revoked license is a Class A misdemeanor that can be punished by up to one year in prison and fines of up to $2,500. The length of a license suspension may also be increased, or the amount of time before a revoked license can be reinstated may be extended.

A driver is required to make sure their vehicle has a valid license plate with a current registration sticker. A vehicle's registration may be suspended or revoked for a number of reasons, such as failure to pay tolls, certain traffic violations, or other violations of the law. Driving a vehicle with an expired registration will typically result in a fine, but driving a vehicle with a registration that has been suspended or revoked is a Class A misdemeanor.