When you see the flashing lights in your rearview mirror, your first instinct after receiving a ticket might be to just pay the fine and move on. It seems like the easiest way to handle traffic violations. However, paying a traffic ticket in Illinois is an automatic admission of guilt. This can lead to unforeseen consequences, including points added to your driving record, a sharp increase in your insurance rates, and even the risk of a license suspension.
Before you pay that fine, understand your options. At Brave Law Center, P.C., our traffic ticket lawyers help drivers across Central Illinois protect their records. We work to minimize the impact of a single ticket and help you avoid the long-term costs that come with a conviction.
An experienced traffic law attorney can provide valuable insight for many different types of violations. Our team has successfully represented clients facing a wide range of traffic-related charges, including:
When you hire Brave Law Center, P.C., we take a strategic approach to your case, aiming to reduce fines and sentencing, and sometimes avoiding penalties altogether. Our process includes:
Fighting a traffic ticket with an experienced attorney offers significant advantages over simply paying the fine. The key benefits include:
Our primary goal is to avoid a conviction that adds points to your license, helping to prevent a potential suspension or revocation.
We work to lower the fines and court costs associated with your ticket, often saving you money in the long run.
By keeping a conviction off your record, we help you avoid the steep insurance premium increases that often follow a moving violation.
In many cases, we can handle court appearances and negotiations on your behalf, saving you from having to take time off work or worry about the process.
The Illinois Secretary of State (ILSOS) uses a points system to track the driving records of all licensed drivers. A conviction for a moving violation will add points to your record, and accumulating too many points can have serious consequences.
How Points Are Assigned: The ILSOS assigns a point value to each moving violation based on its severity. More serious offenses receive more points. Common examples include:
Consequences of Accumulating Points: The total number of points on your record determines the penalty. For drivers 21 and over, the penalties are as follows:
Facing a traffic violation can be a stressful and confusing experience. Our team is dedicated to guiding our clients through every step of the process with clear communication and skilled legal representation. We have a proven track record of helping people in Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford, and Fulton counties achieve great outcomes for their traffic-related issues.
Paying a ticket is pleading guilty. Before you do, you should consider the points associated with the offense and whether it could contribute to a future license suspension. Consulting with a lawyer is the best way to understand the full consequences.
For drivers 21 and older, accumulating 15 points in a 12-month period typically leads to a suspension. The length of the suspension depends on the number of points. The system is more strict for drivers under 21.
In many traffic cases, yes. An attorney can often appear in court on your behalf, especially for more minor violations, saving you the time and stress of a court date.
Court supervision is a sentence that allows you to avoid a conviction. If you receive supervision, you must typically pay a fine and avoid any new traffic violations for a set period. If you successfully complete the supervision period, the case is dismissed, and no conviction is entered on your public driving record.
While a traffic ticket may seem minor, some violations can rise to the level of a serious misdemeanor or even a felony. Effectively handling these cases is an important part of our firm’s overall criminal defense practice.
This service is a core component of our Criminal Law Practice.
Explore our other related legal services:
Don’t let a simple ticket put your license at risk. Protect your driving record and avoid costly long-term consequences by seeking experienced legal advice.
To discuss your case, contact us today at 309-228-9248 or complete our online form to request a reservation.
