Q: My 16 year old son got two tickets in clinton county il driving after curfew and no head lights can u give me advice
He has never been in trouble before but he is really worried
A:
Hello Asker,
Your son is in a situation but it isn't particularly serious. Right now, he is facing two tickets. The headlight tickets are considered a moving violation so it is important that they be dismissed or receive court supervision. This will prevent them from harming his driving privileges. When under 21 years of age, two moving violation convictions in 24 months WILL result in a suspension. For this reason he needs to avoid a conviction for this offense. Often times, showing proof that the vehicle has been fixed is sufficient to arrange such a scenario. In taking a photo of the corrected issue, make sure to get the license plate in the frame of the picture so the prosecutor can verify it is the same vehicle.
As for the curfew ticket, it has other ramifications that have to be mitigated. A conviction for that offense will delay your son from getting his license for 9 months. Therefore, it is important that he get court supervision on this offense as well. Fortunately, he is eligible for court supervision because he has never had it and both of these offenses are eligible for it.
That said, DO NOT MAIL THE TICKETS IN!! Doing so is risky and can result in a conviction on either one since it is purely discretionary that they give you court supervision. Instead, appear in court and request supervision. Be sure to attend with your son as supervision for a minor is NOT possible without the presence of a parent or guardian to sign a consent form.
My recommendation would be to hire an attorney for several reasons. Not only will it increase your chances of supervision but it can ensure your case is processed sooner. This prevents you from needing to take as much time off work and ensures your can get back to work sooner. Getting back to work sooner makes the cost of an attorney much more affordable.
Hope that helps and let me know if you have any further questions. P.S. please take everything I said with a grain of salt. Traffic courts are VERY different from one another. I practice in Northern Illinois. I cannot speak to how they handle things but based upon my time in many traffic courts (around 28 courthouses), these strategies would be effective in addressing these tickets.
Sincerely,
Jason A. Wilkins
Traffic Attorney
(630) 445-2293
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
