Tickets in Chicago

The largest metropolitan area of Illinois is Chicago, which encompasses millions of residents in the city and the suburban areas around it. There are many traffic rules that apply to the Chicago area in addition to the usual Illinois state traffic laws.

For a driver with a commercial driver’s license (CDL), they are held to higher standards because of the unique vehicles they operate. If a commercial driver receives 2 or more serious traffic violations within a 3 year period, they will lose their CDL. Examples of a serious traffic violation include reckless driving or exceeding the speed limit by 15 mph or more.

For drivers with a regular license, their license can be suspended by the Illinois Secretary of State if they have 3 traffic convictions within a one year period or if the court decides that their repeat offenses show a disrespect for traffic laws. A license suspension can be very inconvenient for drivers who are dependent upon their vehicles to drive to work or school. There is a also a fine when drivers apply to reinstate their license, and of course auto insurance rates could be affected.

Drivers who are caught operating a vehicle with a suspended or revoked license will be charged with a criminal offense. The penalties can include heavy fines and jail time; the court will also extend the period of license suspension and law enforcement also has the right to impound the vehicle. If the original license suspension occurred because of a DUI, the penalties can be even stricter and include a longer jail sentence and community service. Another type of license infraction is driving with an expired license or driving without ever obtaining a license.

Every driver must have auto insurance to protect themselves and other drivers in the event of an accident. Drivers must carry proof of their auto insurance in their vehicle and must be ready to show it to a police officer upon request. Drivers are responsible for making sure their information is up to date and in their vehicle. The penalties for this offense include fines and a license suspension for repeat offenders.