If you have received a traffic ticket after being pulled over by a traffic police officer. Your next thought would be to pay the fine online and end the hassle. However, this might prove to be a wrong decision. In Illinois, it is equivalent to pleading guilty in court and getting a permanent mark on your driving record.
3 options for addressing an Illinois traffic ticket
Your traffic ticket contains critical details, such as the nature of the charge, date time and location of the violation. Your ticket also contains the information on whether you are required to appear in court or not. Based on the citation, you have three options. First is to pay the fine and get a conviction on your record. Second is to plead guilty and request for supervision and attend a state-approved traffic safety school. Finally, you can plead not guilty and request a trial.
How early payment could trigger license suspensions
The state treats paying a traffic ticket as an admission of guilt. Creating an automatic conviction on your driving record. In Illinois, each traffic conviction adds points to your license. Accumulating these points up to a certain number puts your license at risk of suspension or even revocation.
Your license can be automatically suspended after committing these common traffic offenses:
- Receiving three moving tickets within the period of 12 months, resulting in conviction
- Receiving two moving violation convictions within a period of 24 months, for drivers under the age of 21
- Receiving a moving violation conviction, for drivers under the age of 21, after receiving a prior suspension
- Driving with a suspended or revoked license may increase your suspension period, and additional fines
All of the above offenses lead to accumulation of the points. The total number of points accumulated during each of these convictions determines the duration of your license’s suspension.
When you pay a ticket online, you forfeit your chance to ask a judge for court supervision. Supervision prevents the violation from becoming a conviction and protecting your driving record from accumulating points.
Resolving traffic violations in the Illinois court
Illinois law considers driving a privilege rather than a right. That is why it becomes critical to protect your driving privileges. The court proceedings can be tricky when facing the bench alone. Working with a traffic ticket defense attorney can help you get through with better efficiency.