How Serious Can a Single Speeding Ticket Really Be?

A single speeding ticket may not seem like much, but it can become a serious issue in a variety of ways. If you receive a speeding ticket, that’s a problem that won’t go away on its own. That one ticket can often come with some unpleasant surprises if you’re not careful.

Your Ticket May Come With More Penalties Than You Assume

The basic speeding laws are an example of a petty offense. As such, you will typically have to pay a fine only, but other penalties can come with the ticket, depending on the severities of the offense.

Absolute Maximum Speeding Laws

Absolute maximum speeding laws state no one can drive over the absolute maximum speed limits set for any particular area in the state. The laws go into clear detail as to what the absolute maximum speed limits are. Some of these maximum speed limits include:

  • 30 mph on all roads in urban districts
  • 15 mph in alleys
  • 65 mph on four-lane highways
  • 55 mph on other highways and roads outside of urban districts
  • 70 mph on interstates

Many drivers can accidentally violate the absolute maximum speeding laws simply by not understanding which maximums apply to which roads. In addition, schools and construction sites also have absolute maximums, and violating those ordinances can earn you a speeding ticket with penalties unlike the others.

Violations of the maximum limits can change a speeding ticket into an aggravated speeding ticket if you’re:

  • Driving 26mph to 34mph over the speed limit (a Class B misdemeanor).
  • Driving 35mph or more over the speed limit (a Class A misdemeanor).

These speeding tickets aren’t petty offenses and will come with more severe penalties.

All potential penalties for any type of speeding ticket can vary widely depending on your situation. An officer can arrest you, even for violating basic speeding laws, if the officer thinks it necessary.

Your Insurance Can Increase by a Lot

Insurance companies will increase your premiums for a speeding ticket, sometimes by double-digit percentages. For some people, the rate increase can become a hardship.

Alternatively, the higher rate may lead you to spend time shopping around for cheaper car insurance. Unfortunately, having that speeding ticket on your record can make that search a lot harder than having a clear record.

Still, an insurance rate increase will only occur if your speeding ticket turns into a conviction. This is one of the many reasons you should consider fighting a speeding ticket. Avoiding a conviction keeps your record clean. If you happen to already have a record, keeping another ticket off it only helps.

Your Driving Record Can Only Handle so Many Points

Points on your driving record can add up quickly from petty offenses and small traffic violations. A speeding ticket can become the thing that causes you to lose your license for months. How many points you can potentially receive for a speeding ticket can vary based on the details surrounding you receiving the ticket.

Always consider fighting a speeding ticket. The laws in Illinois change, so don’t assume what was true about speeding tickets a few years ago will still remain true today. Many defenses exist for fighting these citations, but you need to first speak with a defense lawyer in Lake County who knows the local traffic laws.

A single speeding ticket can cause you problems, but you can do something about it. Before pleading guilty to a traffic violation or paying a fine you feel you shouldn’t have to pay, contact Daniels, Long & Pinsel, LLC, for a consultation. We will help you fight your speeding ticket and lessen the penalties you receive.

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