Q: In the state of IL, do I have to be present in traffic court if I have a lawyer?
Do I have to be present in Lake County traffic court if I have a lawyer who I have hired to try to either reduce the speed on my ticket or give me court supervision? I have heard in some states the lawyer will go instead of you and take care of it with the judge. This was a ticket for going 22 over and I am 22.
A: Not necessarily if you have a valid reason for not being able to be present. A lawyer would provide you with an Affidavit and would be able to assist you in most circumstances without the need for you to be present.
A: This is a Petty Offense, so an attorney should be able to handle this matter without you having to appear in court. You will likely have to sign a Power of Attorney and/or a Plea Of Guilty form and/or both. A local Lake County attorney will be able to answer this question for you.
A: That depends upon the county, the judge and the charge. Where I practice the answer is no but I would not have an opinion about Lake.
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