Can You Get Arrested for Speeding?

 Posted on January 09, 2020 in Speeding

Many motorists think that if they are pulled over for speeding, the most severe penalty they will face is a traffic ticket. However, when motorists drive at an excessive rate of speed, they can face criminal charges. These can result in not only a permanent criminal record for those convicted, but also the very real possibility of jail time. Although most instances of speeding will not result in these harsh consequences, if a person is found guilty of aggravated or excessive speeding, they just might.

Aggravated and Excessive Speeding

When a person is arrested for speeding, it is most likely due to the fact that a police officer believes they are guilty of aggravated or excessive speeding. The penalties for speeding will depend on just how fast over the speed limit a motorist was driving.

Operating a vehicle over 26 to 34 miles per hour above the posted speed limit is considered a Class B misdemeanor. For individuals convicted of this crime, the punishment is a maximum of 180 days in county jail, a fine of $1,500, or both.

These penalties increase when individuals are found guilty of driving more than 35 miles per hour above the posted speed limit. This charge is considered a Class A misdemeanor. Individuals convicted could be sentenced to one year minus one day in county jail, a maximum fine of $2,500, or both.

While these penalties are harsh, they are not the only ones drivers will face when they are convicted of excessive speeding. A conviction will remain on a driver’s license for up to seven years. That could mean increased auto insurance rates, and potentially difficulty finding an insurer that will provide that insurance at all.

Excessive Speeding and the Illinois DMV Point System

Jail time, high fines, and high insurance rates are all very serious consequences of excessive speeding. Unfortunately, they are not the only ones. Excessive speeding and aggravated speeding are very serious traffic offenses. As such, every time a motorist is convicted of these violations, they also have points added to their driver’s license through the Illinois DMV point system. The number of points assigned to a license will depend on the speed a driver was traveling at the time.

After any motorist has accumulated a certain number of points on their driver’s license, they are also at risk for having their driver’s license suspended. The length of suspension also varies depending on the number of points on a license. The number of points and the length of the associated suspension are:

• 15 to 44 points: Two months
• 45 to 74 points: Three months
• 75 to 89 points: Six months
• 90 to 99 points: Nine months
• 100 points or more: Twelve months

The amount of driving convictions that will result in an automatic suspension of a driver’s license also depends on a person’s age. For those over the age of 21, three convictions in a 12-month period are enough to garner an automatic suspension. Anyone under the age of 21 must only accrue two convictions in a 24-month period to have their license suspended.

Our Illinois Criminal Defense Lawyer can Help You Beat the Charges

Excessive speeding in Illinois comes with steep penalties that can remain with a person for several years. If you have been charged with excessive or aggravated speeding, call our skilled Rolling Meadows criminal defense lawyer at the Law Offices of Christopher M. Cosley. Attorney Cosley knows the defenses to charges of aggravated speeding, and how to use them to give you the best chance of beating the charges. Call us today at 847-394-3200 to schedule your free consultation.

Source:

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?DocName=062500050HCh.+11+Art.+VI&ActID=1815&ChapterID=49&SeqStart=122400000&SeqEnd=123900000