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As a motorist in Cook County, Illinois, there are traffic rules and laws that you must observe while on the road. Failing to comply with any of those rules amounts to a traffic violation, which attracts many consequences.
A traffic violation could cause the issuance of a traffic ticket against you. In some circumstances, traffic violations could also lead to criminal charges. In such cases, you’ll need to defend yourself in court and do all you can to avoid a conviction. Otherwise, you risk going to prison, paying a hefty fine, or losing your driving privileges, among other penalties.
In both scenarios, the wrong approach to the allegation against you could lead to serious long-term consequences. Understanding the traffic laws applicable to your case and the intricacies of the criminal justice system is essential to help you defend yourself and make informed decisions about your case. You’ll likely need a traffic ticket defense lawyer who understands these laws to guide and defend you, especially if the accusation against you was made unreasonably or without sufficient basis.
Our Cook County Traffic Lawyers at Hirsch Law Group have an in-depth knowledge of Illinois traffic laws and regulations. They can represent you throughout your case, offer solid legal advice to help you understand your legal rights and options, and put up a good fight where necessary.
Read on as we explain how traffic violations in Cook County, Illinois, work and specific ways we can help with your traffic violation case.
Cook County is one of the most populous counties in the United States, making up a significant part of Illinois. It has more than 5 million residents, with its county seat located in Chicago. As such, there are many roads and highways that crisscross the entire county.
The Illinois Vehicle Code governs traffic laws and regulations in Cook County. Law enforcement officers are responsible for ensuring motorists comply with these rules while on the road. Whenever they suspect a motorist has violated any of these laws or regulations, they can pull them over and issue a traffic ticket.
A traffic ticket includes details about your alleged offense and court information where you should pay your fine or respond to the accusation against you. It also states the amount of money you owe as a penalty for that violation.
If you get a traffic ticket, it is essential to read and understand the details of your case, including the alleged offense(s), court information, and penalties. You’ll have three options:
Pay your fine
Contest the ticket in court
Request supervision (a probation-like period where you must comply with certain conditions)
Choosing any of these options will depend on various factors such as how confident you are about defending yourself in court, time availability, and potential consequences, among others.
Traffic violations may be classified into moving and non-moving violations. A moving violation is committed while the vehicle is in motion, while non-moving violations are those committed while stationary.
Common examples of moving violations include :
Failing to stop at a red light
Failing to use signals
Driving through a stop sign
Driving too close to other vehicles
Making an illegal U-turn
Speeding tickets
Reckless driving resulting in physical injuries or homicide
Driving under the influence (of alcohol or drugs) or DUI
Hit-and-run or leaving the accident scene after an accident.
Moving violations are typically more dangerous than non-moving violations because they are more likely to lead to serious injuries or death. As such, they lead to very serious penalties for those found guilty.
For minor moving violations such as incurring a speeding ticket, you may be required to pay a fine or attend traffic school. However, you do not have to pay the ticket if you are not guilty.
If you believe the traffic ticket you’ve received was issued in error, you can contest the ticket and defend yourself in traffic court. An experienced traffic ticket lawyer can help you determine whether that approach would offer you the most benefit in the long term and help you navigate the traffic court process without stress.
Major moving violations like reckless driving, DUI, and hit-and-run can give rise to criminal charges. If convicted of such charges you could be imprisoned or made to pay a fine.
A criminal conviction will also lead to penalty points for your driving record. If you have too many penalty points, your driver’s license could get suspended, which means you’ll be unable to drive within Cook County or the entire state until the suspension is lifted, in addition to any other criminal penalty the judge may impose.
You may also see an increase in auto insurance premiums following a traffic violation conviction.
Any traffic violation that occurs when the vehicle is not being driven is a non-moving violation. The most common example of non-moving violations is parking violations, which involve illegal parking.
Non-moving violations typically attract a traffic ticket, which would require you to pay a fine.There may be repercussions if you fail to pay the fine on time. Ignoring a traffic ticket is, therefore, not the best idea.
If you believe you do not deserve the ticket, you can speak with a Cook County traffic ticket lawyer, who can help you make your case in traffic court. If your traffic court case succeeds, you will be free from the fine imposed by the ticket. If you are found guilty, however, a non-moving violation could also lead to:
Penalty points for your driving record
License suspension
Increase in auto insurance premiums.
Non-moving violations may also include vehicle defects or equipment violations such as broken tail lights or headlights, expired registration stickers, and tinted windows beyond the legal limit. However, these violations are typically not as serious as moving violations and may attract lesser penalties.
At the Hirsch Law Group, we take all traffic violation cases seriously since they can have long-term effects on a person’s life, freedom, and ability to drive in the state. That’s why we are committed to helping those caught by traffic tickets or charges navigate the system to ensure they emerge with little or no liability.
We can help anyone dealing with a traffic violation or criminal charges in several ways, including the following:
If you dispute a traffic ticket you’ve received, we can advise you on the appropriate steps to take depending on your circumstances and represent you in traffic court if that is what your case requires.
Allegations of serious traffic violations may lead to arrests and detention. During that time, the police may interrogate you to get evidence that could incriminate you. Our skilled defense lawyers, cB, represent you in such cases and guide you so you do not say or do anything that could be used against you in court.
If you’ve been charged with a traffic offense and are standing trial, we can assess your case and help you formulate a suitable defense strategy, which could involve finding weaknesses in the prosecution’s case or negotiating a plea bargain. We’ll also represent you in court.
Accidents can be devastating, and they often give rise to traffic violations or criminal charges. If you were involved in an accident that led to a ticket or criminal charge, we can help you prove your innocence if the case is based on false allegations. If you were truly at fault, we can help you negotiate a favorable settlement with the other party or their insurance company.
Our goal is to find the best approach that would help get the charges against you dismissed or reduced or get you a reduced sentence, depending on the circumstances. We know the challenges of dealing with traffic violations, and that’s why we’re dedicated to helping anyone caught up in such a situation handle it as smoothly as possible.
Many people underestimate the seriousness of receiving traffic offenses and citations. However, this approach is likely to land them in trouble because it means that they may have failed to take the necessary steps that could have helped them disprove the allegations against them and avoid legal liability.
But that doesn’t have to be you. You do not have to sit and wait for the consequences of a traffic violation to affect you. You can fight your ticket and your charges, and there’s a good chance of you coming out on top if you seek help from an experienced Chicago traffic ticket lawyer.
Our traffic ticket lawyers at Hirsch Law Group can fight for you even in the face of overwhelming evidence and work to ensure that your case progresses toward a positive outcome
So, if you have more questions about your traffic violation case, contact us to learn more about your options. Let us help you fight for your freedom and the security of your driving privileges.
