Articles Posted in Speeding

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The Illinois Secretary of State uses a unique system to determine driver’s license suspensions and revocations based on the number of moving violations and a point system. A driver 21 years of age or older will have their license suspended if they receive three moving violation convictions within a 12 months period, while a driver under the age of 21 will have their license suspended if they receive two moving violation convictions within a twenty-four month period.

Every moving violation is assigned a specific number of points. Once a driver reaches the number of convictions outlined above, the Secretary of State will use the total number of points accumulated to determine the duration of suspension or revocation.

For those 21 or older, if you have three convictions for traffic violations within a 12-month period your Illinois driver’s license will be suspended as follows:

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The number of speeding tickets issued by Illinois State Police troopers has dropped significantly over the past 5 years according to a report by the State-Journal Register. The number of speeding tickets decreased by 40% from 211,857 in 2010 to 126,959 in 2015. In 2016, it is estimated that the Illinois State Police will issue approximately 104,000 speeding tickets.

The article analyzed data through Illinois’ Freedom of Information Act.

While the number of speeding tickets has declined, the number of traffic fatalities is up from 5 years ago. For the first time since 2008, the number of traffic fatalities in Illinois has surpassed 1,000. However, the number of fatalities is significantly lower than 15 years ago. In 2001, there were 1,414 fatalities and in the 1970’s, the numbers were typically around 2,000.

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An electronic insurance verification program may soon be implemented in Illinois. This program will make it much easier for officers to catch those driving without car insurance. In 2014, the Illinois legislature established a committee to design the program, which will likely include a computer database that would be accessible to law enforcement during traffic stops. The system would allow officers to ensure you are up to date on your monthly insurance payments. Often, individuals make a down payment on their insurance, receive their insurance card, and do not follow up on monthly payments, allowing their coverage to lapse while retaining the card showing that they are insured. As of now, in order to ensure you are currently covered by insurance, officers must call the insurance company.

It is expected that the Secretary of State will adopt the rules for the program by 2016. The agency has estimated that of the 9 million licensed drivers in Illinois, 6% are uninsured.

Michigan has recently adopted a similar program, allowing police to access information on whether a vehicle is insured by running the license plate through their computer. Michigan insurance companies are required to transmit policy information twice a month, so the information provided to officers is reasonably accurate.

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1. The liability of parents for underage drinking no longer only applies to residences or private property. State law will be expanded in 2015 to penalize parents who allow those under the age of 21 to consume alcohol in vehicles, trailers, campers or watercrafts under their ownership or control. Parents will face a fine of up to $2,000. If a death results, parents can face a felony charge.

2. The Illinois Tollway Authority will now have the authority to increase the speed limit to 70 mph on interstates in urban areas. The law previously passed in 2013 allowed for a 70 mph speed limit only in rural areas.

3. Individuals, including children, who suffer from seizures will be permitted to be treated with medical marijuana. Although the specific rules and regulations regarding children are not finalized, it is likely that the child will be required to obtain written certification from two doctors.

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A new Illinois law eliminates the requirement that drivers post their license as bail for certain traffic tickets. The “Sign and Drive” law (Senate Bill 2583) permits the driver’s signature on the traffic citation to guarantee their appearance in court or payment of required fines.

Under the new law, the Secretary of State may still suspend the driving privileges of those drivers who fail to comply with the citation. Driver’s are no longer required to hand over their driver’s license, which for many is the only form of identification they carry. The new law, signed by Gov. Quinn on Saturday, is effective immediately.

Drivers won’t need to hand over license as bail for traffic offenses, www.chicagotribune.com, August 10, 2014

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On Sunday, Governor Pat Quinn signed a bill into law restricting police departments from imposing ticket quotas on officers in Illinois. The Governor stated that officers should “not be forced to ticket motorists to satisfy a quota system” and explained that the new law will “prevent motorists from facing unnecessary anxiety when they encounter a police vehicle.” The new law applies to all ticket types including traffic tickets (i.e. speeding tickets) and parking tickets. The new law even extends to hunting and fishing citations.

Effective immediately, officers in Illinois cannot be required to issue a certain number of citations within a specific timeframe. The new law also prohibits a county or municipality from comparing the number of tickets issued by one officer to another officer for purposes of evaluating job performance. While critics argue that the law restricts departments from holding officers accountable for performance, supporters believe the law allows officers with the freedom to do their job protecting the public.

Gov. Quinn signs bill banning ticket quotas for police, www.suntimes.com, June 15, 2014

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Final notice was given by Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s office Wednesday before the new automated speed cameras near parks and schools we begin issuing real tickets. Some of the cameras have been running under a grace period over the last couple of months but will soon be switching to enforcement mode as early as Wednesday. However, it is now reported that speeders will be given a second chance. The system will send a warning ticket first and the driver is only fined on a second offense.

According to city officials, a $100 fine will be imposed for speeds of 11 mph or more over the limit during the initial phase. Drivers will not yet be ticketed for driving 6 to 9 mph over the limit. Drivers traveling at exactly 10 mph over the limit may face a $35 fine at this time. The city will gradually lower the speed threshold and those speeding 6-10 mph will face a $35 fine.

During the 45-day grace period, the first nine cameras near four city parks issued 222,843 warnings. According to the Tribune, if real tickets, they would reportedly have generated $13.3 million. Projected over an entire year they would have generated $106 million. City City officials argue that revenue will drop as drivers change behavior. They cite statistics demonstrating that warnings issued by the first 9 cameras decreased by 43% within the first two weeks of operation. Enforcement hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday in school zones and from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week near parks.

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A five-year contract to install speed cameras in Chicago was finalized by Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s administration last week. The $67 million contract allows the installation of up to 300 cameras designed to catch speeders around city schools and parks. As few as 50 locations could be in operation this year due to a slow rollout. According to a city spokesman, cameras may be installed as early as August and speed camera tickets may be issued as early as September. Emanuel projects $15 million in revenue this year. The cameras are permitted by city ordinance to be installed within one-eighth of a mile of city schools and parks. However, in effect, the cameras could cover roughly half of the city.

The contract the city may buy or lease each $98,000 camera system from American Traffic Solutions, Inc. The city’s intent is to lease the systems, and pay ATS $3,750 a month to maintain and operate each camera. The purchase option would result in a $2,900 per month fee. The contract includes three two-year extension options.

Speed camera tickets may start in September, www.chicagotribune.com, July 18, 2013

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Dean A. Suominen, 37, of Shorewood avoided jail time after pleading guilty Tuesday in DuPage County to misdemeanor DUI and reckless driving after officials allege he was traveling at more than 140 mph at the time of the incident. Suominen was charged on January 10, 2012 after his Dodge Charger veered off the road, went airborne, and struck a billboard in Naperville. His BAC was reportedly at .20, more than two times the legal limit. According to prosecutors, a data recorder in the vehicle registered a speed of 142 mph just before the car left the road. Suominen was sentenced to two years of court supervision, 100 hours of community service, over $3,000 in fines, court costs and restitution. In exchange for the plea, prosecutors dismissed citations for driving too fast for conditions, improper lane usage, and speeding. He had no prior criminal history or alcohol-related driving offenses on his record according to his criminal defense attorney.

No jail for man accused of driving drunk at 142 mph, www.chicagotribune.com, February 27, 2013
Naperville driver accused of going 142 mph pleads guilty, www.dailyherald.com, February 27, 2013

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Hector Barajas, 23, was charged with driving under the influence as a result of a two-car crash that left one man dead and three other people injured. One of the vehicles hit a light pole.

One victim was pronounced dead at Northwestern Memorial Hospital an hour after the crash. Two of the other victims were taken to the hospital in serious to critical condition, while the third was in good to fair condition.

Along with DUI charges, Barajas was cited for reckless driving, driving without insurance and speeding.

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