Q: Got a court appearance required but on ticket with no ticket amount. What's this
I was driving on I-90 and state trooper pulled me over for 28 mph over. I have a court date set and appearance required on the citation but do not have the ticket amount written. What should I expect at the court? Do I need to hire an attorney? OR just plead guilty and pay? License suspended? Misdemeanor?
A:
Hello Asker,
Let me preface this by saying that this applies only to speeding tickets in Illinois, not Michigan or any other state.
It would be best to hire an attorney. This ticket is what is known as a class B misdemeanor in Illinois. It is punishable by up to 6 months in jail and/or $1500 fine. Now, both of those are rare results but the seriousness of it still should be considered. Being convicted of this offense would give you a criminal record. Because of this, it is not uncommon for judges to recommend that drivers seek an attorney if they go to court without one. There is a significant chance that they may not resolve your case on the first court date without having an attorney with you.
As for the lack of an amount, this is because the rules that allow out of court resolution of tickets do not apply to speeding tickets over 25 mph. This protects drivers by ensuring they are fully aware of the seriousness of the offense before entering a plea of guilty. That said, if you fail to appear, a judgment for up to $1500 can enter against you as well as a warrant for your arrest. In short, so long as you show up for court, this won't be an issue. So in other words, you must go to court.
As for what the impact will be, it is hard to say without knowing what your license is. I presume this is an Illinois ticket but I am not sure if you have a Michigan License based upon your location. If you have an Illinois license, this ticket alone can't suspend your license so long as you go to court. I say alone because it must combine with other moving violations to result in a suspension. The one exception to this is if you are under 21 and have previously had a moving violation suspension. That said, it can drastically impact your insurance rates so it is important to not take it too lightly.
Hope that helps and let us know if you have any additional questions!
Sincerely,
Jason A. Wilkins
Traffic Attorney
(630) 445-2293
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