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How Traffic Tickets Could Suspend Driving Privileges
Illinois ranks among the busiest transportation corridors in the United States. The central location and access to freeways, railroads, shipping and air freight in a state with 4.5 million registered vehicles and 12.67 million residents adds up to a great potential for violating traffic laws and incurring fines and other penalties. Like other states, Illinois uses a points system that can lead to the suspension of driving privileges when drivers accrue too many points on their driving record.
How Drivers Get Points Against Them
Violating Illinois traffic laws will result in points on your driving record. Exceeding the speed limit is the most commonly understood way in which motorists violate traffic laws and earn points against them. Currently, the Illinois Vehicle Code assigns the following points for violating posted speed limits:
- 5 points for exceeding the speed limit by up to 10 mph
- 15 points for driving 11 to 14 mph over the speed limit
- 20 points for traveling 15 to 25 mph over the speed limit
- 50 points for exceeding the speed limit by more than 25 mph
Other driving infractions, like reckless driving, earn 55 points and an immediate suspension of driving privileges. The state has a wide range of moving violations that net points for offenders.
How Long Do Points Remain on Your Record
The state of Illinois leaves points on driving records for up to five years. Motorists who maintain an infraction-free driving record after receiving Illinois traffic tickets and respective points will see points start to fall off of their driving record after five years.
What Happens When You Get Too Many Points
When you accrue too many points on your driving record in Illinois, you lose your driving privileges for a period of time. How long depends on the extent of the violations and total points versus any prior license suspensions or revocations in Illinois.
If you have no prior license revocations or suspensions during the prior seven years, you would have to accrue at least 15 points to lose your driving privileges for two months. Points totaling at least 45 and no more than 74 trigger a three-month suspension, while 75 through 89 points results in a six-month loss of driving privileges.
A nine-month suspension comes with 90 through 99 points, and a one-year suspension with 100 through 109 points. Anyone who accrues at least 110 points due to a combination of moving violations permanently loses his or her driving privileges in Illinois.
Where to Pay Your Illinois Traffic Tickets Fines
When ticketed and fined for moving violations in Illinois, motorists can pay traffic fines online after entering an electronic guilty plea online. The state courts system accepts online payments via debit cards or credit cards. You also can enter guilty pleas and pay fines in person at the respective county court system where the moving violation occurred.