To obtain a driver’s license, Illinois residents have to pass tests showing a basic understanding of traffic laws and a practical ability to control a motor vehicle. They can then drive, so long as they comply with all of the appropriate state regulations.
If motorists break the law, police officers can enforce it. They can stop those who drive inappropriately and issue them citations. The consequences of a ticket include a state-imposed fine, license points and potentially higher insurance costs. Generally speaking, many drivers simply pay their traffic tickets and move on with their lives. However, the more citations they have, the greater the consequences they face.
Eventually, with enough tickets, drivers could be at risk of losing their licenses. How many tickets are too many for a driver with an Illinois state license?
Losing a license is easier than people think
The state tracks an individual’s recent traffic infractions by assessing points. When drivers have repeated violations in their recent history, the state can act by suspending their licenses. The more citations a driver receives and the less time between them, the greater the risk to their driving privileges.
Illinois assesses license points based on the severity of the traffic offense. Some minor offenses only carry five points. Some more serious traffic violations carry 55 points. Regardless of the number of points, a driver only needs to have three citations from within the last 12 months to be at risk of losing their license. Drivers under the age of 21 can lose their licenses for two tickets accrued within 12 months.
It is also worth noting that certain, more serious traffic violations may result in an immediate loss of licensing. A driver who pleads guilty to impaired driving allegations, for example, could lose their license after the very first offense. Fighting back against traffic tickets can help people avoid not just a fine but also the potential secondary consequences of a traffic violation.
Those who successfully fight traffic tickets don’t have to worry about insurance cost increases or the loss of their driving privileges. Reviewing the situation that led to a citation could help a driver avoid consequences that are far more inconvenient than a simple fine.
