Penalties of Speeding in an Illinois School Zone

The traffic attorneys at The Davis Law Group, P.C. frequently represent clients ticketed for Speeding in a School Zone and other similar traffic offenses throughout Illinois. Drivers traveling through a school zone are held to a higher standard for the safety of the children in the area. School zone tickets are taken more seriously than most traffic violations and, therefore, require an appearance in court.

Under Illinois law (625 ILCS 5/11-605), motorists are prohibited from driving faster than 20 mph while passing a school zone on a school day when children are present. A school day lasts from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Illinois law requires that appropriate signs are posted where the school zone is located, which warn the driver that a school speed zone is being approached and indicates the maximum speed limit in effect during school days when children are present.

Under Illinois law, there are enhanced penalties for speeding in a school zone when compared to regular speeding offenses. A first violation of this law is a petty offense with a minimum fine of $150.00 plus mandatory fees and court costs. A second or subsequent violation is a petty offense with a minimum fine of $300.00 plus mandatory fees and court costs.

Illinois law prohibits a sentence of court supervision for speeding in a school zone. As a result, if you plead guilty or if you are found guilty after trial, a conviction will be entered on your public driving record. A conviction will count against your driving privileges and insurance rates.

As a result, our traffic attorneys may attempt to negotiate for a reduction of the offense. An amendment of the charge to a regular petty speeding ticket would allow for a sentence of court supervision and prevent the offense from appearing on your record if completed successfully.

Of course, these citations may be challenged at trial when appropriate. Our speeding ticket attorneys evaluate these offenses on a case-by-case basis to determine the most effective strategy to achieve the best possible result.

Aggravated speeding in a school zone is a criminal offense with more serious potential consequences.

Under the law, speeding 26 miles per hour but less than 35 miles per hour in a school zone is guilty of the offense of ‘aggravated special speed limit while passing schools’, which is a Class B misdemeanor. A Class B Misdemeanor is punishable by up to 6-months in jail and/or a fine of $1,500.00 plus mandatory fees and court costs.

Speeding 35 miles per hour or more in a school zone is guilty of the offense of ‘aggravated special speed limit while passing schools’, which is a Class A misdemeanor. A Class A misdemeanor is punishable by up to a year in jail and/or a fine of $2,500.00 plus mandatory fees and court costs.

Drivers are prohibited from receiving court supervision on all aggravated speeding in a school zone offenses.

Despite your best intentions, you may have received a ticket for speeding in a school zone. You many have been unaware of the existence of the school zone or simply had a misunderstanding of the law. Of course, in some cases, these tickets may have been improperly issued.

Due to the high fines, required court appearance and prohibition on court supervision associated with this offense, it is beneficial to seek the representation of a professional traffic ticket attorney. The attorneys at The Davis Law Group, P.C. have successfully defended thousands of speeding tickets throughout the Chicago area including Cook County, Lake County and DuPage County.

Contact us today if you have received a ticket for speeding in Illinois.