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.

For most drivers in Rolling Meadows, a speeding ticket is little more than an annoyance. These tickets often do not result in anything more than a fine. There are instances when a speeding ticket can result in much more. This is when the driver is charged with aggravated speeding. An aggravated speeding charge is very serious. Anyone charged with this crime should speak to a criminal defense lawyer in Rolling Meadows right away.

What Is Aggravated Speeding?

According to Illinois statute 625 ILCS 5/11-601.5, aggravated speeding consists of driving 26 miles per hour, or more, over the posted speed limit. At one time, traveling at these speeds was considered the same as a minor speeding ticket. However, due to the fact that driving at such speeds poses an increased threat to public safety, lawmakers in the state increased the penalties for aggravated speeding in 2011.

Aggravated speeding is still considered to be a misdemeanor offense. When a driver is traveling between 26 and 34 miles per hour over the posted speed limit, they can be charged with a Class B misdemeanor. The charge becomes more serious when a driver is traveling over 35 miles per hour the posted speed limit. In these cases, drivers can be charged with a Class A misdemeanor.

Many drivers have traveled slightly too fast while behind the wheel at some point in their driving career. It certainly is not very difficult to exceed the posted speed limit, especially when everyone around you on the road is speeding as well. Drivers can get caught up in the flow of traffic and keep pace with the other vehicles around them. They do not realize that they have exceeded the speed limit until it is too late and a law enforcement officer stops them and issues them a ticket for speeding.

Speeding is often treated as a minor traffic violation. However,if you receivea speeding ticket for driving more than 26 miles per hour over the posted speed limit, it can result in a misdemeanor charge under 625 ILCS 5/11-601.5. A less serious situation may arise when you get a speeding ticket for driving less than 25 miles per hour over the posted speed limit, which results in a citation where the penalty is the payment of a civil fine.

Most people who are issued a ticket for speeding simply pay their fine and go on their way. But by paying a fine for your speeding ticket you are admitting your guilt or that you plead no contest to the speeding charges that have been lodged against you.