Traffic Violations

Criminal Attorney • Traffic Lawyer • Traffic Tickets
Illinois • Cook County • Lake County • DuPage County

CRIMINAL DUI - TRAFFIC

Our office provides complete legal services for major traffic violations including DUI (Driving Under the Influence), driving on a revoked license, driving on a suspended license, reckless driving, drag racing and speeding in excess of 40 mph. All the above citations, although incurred while driving, constitute Class A misdemeanors in the State of Illinois. The penalty for conviction on a Class A misdemeanor is up to 364 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,500.00 plus mandated court costs and fees.

Traffic Tickets

Did you know that speeding in excess of 40 mph above the posted speed limited is now a Class A misdemeanor in Illinois? It certainly is and as with all Class A misdemeanors the judge, upon a conviction, has the discretion of sentencing an offender up to 364 days in jail and imposing a fine of up to $2,500.00 plus statutory court costs.

Speeding tickets less than 40 mph also require legal representation as the ramifications of a conviction on your record are higher insurance costs, possible suspension of your driver’s license (if there are multiple convictions of moving offenses in a set period of time) and higher fines, for those persons not represented by attorneys.

Illinois Highway Construction Zones

The construction zones on the expressways and tollways in the State of Illinois require a 45 mile per hour speed limit. A violation of that speed limit results in a MINIMUM FINE of $375.00 with a MAXIMUM FINE of $10,000.00. These are the type of traffic tickets that require the assistance of an experienced attorney.

Additionally, Section 11-908 of the Illinois Vehicle Code prohibits drivers from the following when entering a highway construction zone:

• The vehicle must make a lane change into a lane not adjacent t o that where workers are present if on a highway with not less than two lanes proceeding in the same direction;
• Reducing the speed of a vehicle; and
• Allowing vehicles entering the highway from the construction zone the right of way provided the vehicle has displayed flashing lights.

Illinois has adopted the Ohio and Indiana standard of moving to another lane when there is construction on a highway. Even if you are traveling at the 45 mile per hour speed limit a violation of the above Section would result in a fine of not less than $100.00 all the way up to $10,000.00. Additionally, if a violation of this Section results in injury to another person then the driving privileges of the driver of the vehicle that caused the injury can be suspended by the Secretary of State anywhere from six (6) months to two (2) years.

Illinois Highway Construction Zone tickets are becoming more popular in the Third Municipal District Courthouse located in Rolling Meadows, the Addison Field Court located in Addison, IL, the Downers Grove Field Courthouse located in Downers Grove, IL and the Glendale Heights Courthouse located in Glendale Heights, IL. These are State Police charges and they are prosecuted by the State’s Attorneys of the various counties. It is imperative to obtain an attorney when receiving this type of a ticket.

Leaving the Scene of an Accident

The driver of a motor vehicle involved in a motor vehicle accident resulting in injury or death to any person or damage to any vehicle which is driven or attended by any person has the duty to give information and render aid at the scene. (Section 11-403 of the Illinois Vehicle Code). Leaving the scene of an accident, pursuant to that Statute, is a Class A Misdemeanor which can result in being sentenced to incarceration in the County jail up to 364 days and a fine up to $2,500.00. Additionally, the Illinois legislature has recently enacted Section 11-404 which requires that when you damage an unattended vehicle or other property with your motor vehicle you must give a written notice giving your name, address, registration number and owner of the vehicle and notify the police department with jurisdiction over the same to make a written report of the accident. The failure to do so is also a Class A Misdemeanor.

Our Most Frequented Courthouses

Our office has a great deal of experience on these types of cases in the Third Municipal District Courthouse located at 2121 E. Euclid Avenue, Rolling Meadows, IL; the Second Municipal District Courthouse located at 5600 W. Old Orchard Road, Skokie, IL, the new Mundelein Field Courthouse located in western Lake County, Addison Field Courthouse, the Glendale Heights Field Courthouse, and the Downer's Grove Field Courthouse. Our minimum fees for representation in these areas are as follows:

Obviously, traffic tickets and DUI charges that involve automobile accidents where there was either property damage or personal injury that resulted from the incident will require more fees and the cases become more complicated. Additionally, the minimum for any trial on a DUI is $1,600.00. If a jury trial is requested then you should add another $750.00.

Please also remember that I am an experienced lawyer with several jury and bench trials to my credit. I have been through this process before and I have formulated specific jury instructions and request for discovery designed to present the most cohesive case possible for a defendant that utilizes my office.

Other Courthouses

We are also available to practice in any of the Lake County, IL courts, the Cook County Districts including cases heard at the Richard J. Daley Civic Center in downtown Chicago and cases in Dupage County Court including the Addison Field Courthouse and the Glendale Heights Field Courthouse.

Other Criminal Matters

Our office is experienced in handling cases involving unlawful use of weapon (UUW), possession of controlled substances (drug cases), possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute including cases involving trafficking cocaine, marijuana and ecstasy and retail shoplifting.

Criminal defense lawyer Michael Meschino also handles a full range of misdemeanors from assault, battery to criminal damage to property and criminal trespass to property.

Our firm represents people throughout the northwest suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, including Arlington Heights, Palatine, Mt. Prospect, Schaumburg, Streamwood, Inverness, Hanover Park, Lake Zurich, and Deerfield.

To schedule a free initial consultation with a traffic violation attorney, email us or call us at 1-800-835-4202.