Q: i was going 90 on a 55 i didn’t get a ticket but i do have to go to court what should i expect.

A: It sounds like there may be some confusion. Were you charged with speeding 90 in a 55? Did the officer provide you with paperwork indicating that you have a required court appearance? In Illinois, speeding 35 mph or more over the limit is a Class A misdemeanor. Class A misdemeanors are criminal charges and punishable by a maximum of 12 months in jail and a $2,500 fine. While the maximum penalties are unlikely, these cases are treated much differently than regular traffic violations. Typically, the goal is to avoid a criminal conviction on your record and minimize the consequences. Among other factors, any prior history of traffic violations will weigh heavily on the result of your case. You are encouraged to contact an attorney directly that practices in the specific county/courthouse where you are required to appear. Best of luck to you.

A: Excessive speed makes it a criminal case.

Hard to tell what to expect. Depends on prosecutor.

A: Hello Asker,

Considering your location and the VERY specific speed (exactly 35 over), I am guessing you have court in the Rolling Meadows Courthouse. They have in recent years made a habit of writing construction zone speeding tickets at exactly 90 mph over (often they cite the driver going faster and elect to write a lower speed) with the expectation that should proper mitigation be presented, it would be reasonable to see the charges reduced. While that isn't a guarantee, it is possible to see a reduction. As Mr. Davis helpfully pointed out, it is considered a criminal misdemeanor as charged as it is 35 or more over the posted limit. As a consequence, it is a pretty serious ticket. Additionally, if the zone was a construction zone (I'm willing to bet 90% chance that is what your ticket says), then you can also expect higher than usual fines due to the minimum fine. My recommendation would be to expect to hire an attorney and to expect to have a conversation with them about the possibility of reducing this charge. With any luck, this can be achieved though it more often than not is not a guarantee and will heavily depend on your driving record and the manner of how you interacted with the officer.

Either way, I feel you would be best served hiring a lawyer as these reductions often require significant negotiation that usually involves a supervising assistant state's attorney.

I hope that helps and let us know if you have any questions!