Category: Traffic Questions

Questions and answers of various traffic law matters

What is court supervision on a traffic ticket and will it keep my record clean?

January 22, 2018

Court supervision, to most people, is a way to keep one’s record clean of an offense.  It’s often called many names: deferred prosecution, traffic school, dismissal, etc.  While this sounds good on paper, it’s important to know what exactly court supervision is so you can protect your license.  The explanations that follow relate only to … More What is court supervision on a traffic ticket and will it keep my record clean?

For commercial drivers, will court supervision protect my record? How can I protect myself?

December 6, 2017

For many people, court supervision is a great option to protect their record.  It can prevent points on your license, insurance rate increases, and protect your public driving record.  Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case for everyone.  For commercial drivers, federal law complicates court supervision.  As a result of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration … More For commercial drivers, will court supervision protect my record? How can I protect myself?

What can I do to keep my court supervision if I got another ticket?

June 13, 2017

For those of you who are unaware, court supervision is essentially a promise that you won’t violate any criminal, ordinance, or traffic laws during the supervising period in exchange for the ticket not being on your public driving record.  It is also a promise that you will pay all fines and court costs as well … More What can I do to keep my court supervision if I got another ticket?

What can I do to keep my court supervision if I got another ticket?

June 13, 2017

For those of you who are unaware, court supervision is essentially a promise that you won’t violate any criminal, ordinance, or traffic laws during the supervising period in exchange for the ticket not being on your public driving record.  It is also a promise that you will pay all fines and court costs as well … More What can I do to keep my court supervision if I got another ticket?

Can I get traffic school with court supervision again if my second ticket is in a different county?

October 18, 2016

This is a very common question we receive quite often.  Before we dive in, we would like to address what court supervision is so we are on the same page: Court supervision is an alternative to conviction that allows drivers to avoid an offense being recorded to their public record.  In exchange for not receiving … More Can I get traffic school with court supervision again if my second ticket is in a different county?

Why does my traffic ticket seem to suggest I owe an insane amount of money ($1,000-$2,500)?

February 12, 2016

Fear not!  This value does not represent the amount that you owe on the ticket.  Rather, this value represents the sum of money you will owe in the event that you fail to comply with the requirements of the ticket. How does this work?  When giving a ticket, the officer can allow you to leave … More Why does my traffic ticket seem to suggest I owe an insane amount of money ($1,000-$2,500)?

How do Driver’s License “Points” work in Illinois and how close am I to a suspension?

January 20, 2016

Typically, we imagine driver’s license points as a system to determine when our license is suspended.  Often, it is hard to know how many points you have and what impact, if any, they may have on your record.  If you have ever pondered that, this guide is for you. In Illinois, a driver receives points … More How do Driver’s License “Points” work in Illinois and how close am I to a suspension?

How to sign up for email plate renewal reminders & how to handle expired registration tickets?

January 8, 2016

To set up emailed renewal notices, you can visit https://www.ilsos.gov/greenmail/ and enter your PIN and registration ID. Where do you get these? You can call (217) 785-3000, then option 7. This is the public inquiry section. From here, you can receive your pin and registration ID over the phone if you are listed as an … More How to sign up for email plate renewal reminders & how to handle expired registration tickets?

TRAFFIC QUESTION: What’s the difference between court supervision and a conviction?

January 7, 2016

Answer:  When a traffic ticket is issued, a court case is created that can end several different ways.  Finding of not guilty, dismissal of charges, or a finding of guilty are just a few of these.  In traffic court, guilty judgments are divided into two categories: convictions and court supervisions.  In general, the big difference … More TRAFFIC QUESTION: What’s the difference between court supervision and a conviction?

What should I do if I receive a ticket for causing an accident? Should I plead guilty?

January 6, 2016

Answer: Pleading guilty to an accident ticket is almost never a good idea. These tickets, more than any other moving violation, are among the most commonly thrown out tickets in any traffic court. Prematurely pleading guilty can result in paying fines and court costs that could have otherwise been avoided. It can harm your driving … More What should I do if I receive a ticket for causing an accident? Should I plead guilty?