Most speeding tickets in Illinois are a nuisance, but not that big of a deal legally speaking.  If you are over 21 and have a clean driving record, you almost never need a lawyer for a ticket that’s something like 73 in a 55.  You can do traffic school and get the ticket off your record which means your insurance won’t go up and unless you have a CDL, your license won’t be affected.  There is no point in getting an attorney when it would cost you as much as it would just paying off the ticket.  This is true when the ticket doesn’t harm you.

In some cases though, a speeding ticket could lead to jail time. In those instances, you definitely need a lawyer.  If you are charged with going 26 miles per hour over the limit or more this is known as aggravated speeding or excessive speeding.  At a minimum this is a misdemeanor charge in Illinois which means it’s a criminal case.  As a result, you can spend up to six months in jail for tickets that are 26-34 miles over the limit and 12 months in jail for a conviction 35 mph and up.  On top of that, you can get fined up to $2,500.00.  Beyond all of that, because this is a crime, the conviction would show up on a background check. Clearly this is a big deal.

On top of all of that, you can have your license suspended which of course could create a significant hardship for you.

Anyone charged with aggravated speeding should have an attorney.  Unlike minor traffic offenses, the consequences are too severe not to have one. In fact, most Judges will tell you to come back with an attorney if you show up to your first court date without one. That’s because they don’t want to sentence you to jail without proper representation.

The good news is that in most cases, when you do have an experienced lawyer, they are able to negotiate with the prosecutors a lesser charge and have the speeding ticket reduced to a 25 mph violation.  You still will have a fine, but it won’t be $2,500 and you won’t lose your license or go to jail.  There is no guarantee of course, but in almost every case we’ve been involved in with aggravated speeding, the attorney has been able to get a favorable outcome.

If you are looking for an attorney to defend you, we are happy to help.  We have had great success for clients in Cook County, Will County, DuPage County, Kane County and Lake County. To speak with a lawyer for free, call us at 312-346-5320 to discuss your case.