Q: Out of state speeding ticket with suspension in that state

A: Hello Asker,

The technical answer is yes. I say technical because any suspension in one state can and should trigger a suspension in another state. In practice, from time to time, these suspensions don't make it across the national database and some people get lucky and aren't suspended. With that said, you have two things you MUST do.

First, update your address with the secretary of state to ensure you will be getting mail of any pending suspensions so you can avoid driving on a suspended license, a serious criminal offense.

Second, contact an attorney in the area around the county where you were ticketed. Speak to them about the impact of the ticket, what you need to do to avoid a suspension, and whether it will require your personal appearance in court. I would highly advise you do this sooner rather than later because your court appearance will likely be required and that can be a costly trip to not plan in advance. Additionally, missing court could result in a warrant you would likely want to avoid.

With all this said, there are two things to consider when preventing suspension: preventing suspension of your Iowa privileges and preventing suspension of your Illinois privileges. I cannot speak to Iowa privileges but I can to Illinois. In Illinois, such a ticket can trigger a suspension if one of the five is true:

-You received this when you were already suspended

-You received two other moving violation tickets on or after your 21st birthday issued within a year of this ticket AND you were convicted of those two ticketsAND this ticket was issued on or after your 21st birthday

-You received one other moving violation ticket issued before your 21st birthday that you were later convicted of AND this ticket was issued before your 21st birthday AND within two years of your other moving violation issue date

-You fail to appear when required, particularly if you posted your license as bond

-You've had a suspension for too many moving violations before your 21st birthday AND you received this ticket before your 21st birthday

Regardless of this, I would still speak to an Illinois attorney to ask about the impact on your driving privileges as this was only the risks I could think of off the top of my head.

Disclaimer: Although this advice is intended to assist, it is not intended to be legal advice. Without a conversation about the specifics of your case and record, I cannot fully advise you on this manner and ask that you take the above advice with a grain of salt.

I know that was a lot and I hope I was clear. I hope that helps and let us know if you have any additional questions!

Sincerely,

Jason A. Wilkins

Traffic Attorney

(630) 445-2293