Improper Lane Usage Violations for CDL Holders

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Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) holders are often issued traffic tickets for left lane violations on the highways and tollways across the State of Illinois. The Illinois Department of Transportation has erected signage prohibiting trucks from using the far left lane in many areas. The Illinois State Police are constantly on the lookout for trucks using the far left lane.

These offenses are most commonly charged under 625 ILCS 5/11-709 of the Illinois Vehicle Code. This type of traffic ticket is typically referred to as:

  • Improper Use of Designated Lanes
  • Improper Traffic Lane Usage
  • Truck Lane Restriction Violation
  • Restricted Lane Usage Violation
  • Left Lane Violation
  • Left Lane Prohibited Violation

Of course, this law does not only apply to driving in a restricted lane, but also applies to lane usage offenses resulting in traffic accidents, whether or not the driver was in the left lane.

The Illinois Secretary of State classifies Improper Lane Usage as a serious violation if it is committed while operating a commercial motor vehicle. Two serious violations within a three-year period will result in a disqualification of your CDL privileges.

Under federal law, a sentence of court supervision will count against your CDL privileges just as a conviction does. As a result, court supervision will still appear on your public driving record. Requesting traffic safety school to avoid a court appearance will have the same negative impact on your CDL privileges because this is just another form of court supervision.

Left lane offenses may also be written under 625 ILCS 5/11-305 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, which is typically referred to as:

  • Disobeying a Traffic Control Device
  • Disregarding an Official Traffic Control Device

As a CDL holder, your license is your livelihood and even a single traffic ticket can have a significant impact on your employment, insurance and safety record.

If you receive a ticket for a left lane violation in Illinois, contact our CDL traffic attorneys to review your case. The lawyers at The Davis Law Group, P.C. have extensive knowledge and experience in the area of traffic violations and CDL rules. We look forward to hearing from you.