Your Advocate For Criminal Defense, DUI, Expungements & Traffic Violations

Don’t Take Chances With Speeding Tickets

If you have gotten a speeding ticket in Nashville, Washington County or elsewhere in Southern Illinois, you do not have to plead guilty and pay the ticket. There are other options. Fighting a speeding ticket is possible with the help of an experienced traffic violations lawyer.

I am attorney Tom Speedie. When you choose me to defend you against accusations of exceeding the speed limit, you will benefit from my 25 years of experience. I will help you understand your options and fight the speeding ticket.

Why Hiring A Lawyer To Fight A Speeding Ticket Makes Sense

People often think that hiring a Nashville speeding ticket attorney is just not worth it. However, they are usually not taking into account the full cost of paying the ticket. They look at the fine on the ticket and think that is all they are paying, only to find out later about the unseen costs.

The first of the unseen costs of a speeding ticket to consider is the increase in your insurance premiums. To your insurance company, a ticket is a sign that you are at increased risk of an auto accident. Depending on your overall driving history and other factors, your insurance rates could increase substantially and they could stay high for years.

When you add up the cost of the fine and the extra insurance premiums you will be forced to pay, you may find that the cost of hiring an attorney is actually cheaper. That is not even taking into consideration the other unseen costs of a speeding ticket, including the risk of driver’s license suspension or revocation. I will educate you about the potential costs and guide you through the alternatives. Even if it seems the evidence against you is strong, I may be able to minimize the impact and cost of the speeding ticket.

Frequently Asked Questions About Illinois Speeding Tickets

After a traffic citation, you need information to make the right choice. If you understand the consequences of just paying a ticket, you may see the value in fighting it instead.

How long do Illinois speeding tickets affect my driving record?

Every traffic citation that you receive affects your official record with the Illinois Secretary of State. Most speeding violations and similar citations remain on your record for between four and five years after the date of conviction.

The day that you pay the ticket is essentially the day that you enter a guilty plea. In cases where a traffic ticket results in a license suspension or revocation, the state can report the traffic offense on your record for a minimum of seven years after you regain your driving privileges.

How many traffic violation points do speeding tickets carry?

A traffic ticket can add anywhere from five to 50 points to your Illinois driving record. The number of points added per offense depends on how much you exceeded the speed limit at the time of the citation.

Offenses involving between one and 10 miles per hour (mph) over the limit add five points to your license. Citations for speeds between 11 and 14 mph over the limit add 15 points, while citations for exceeding the speed limit by between 15 and 25 mph can add 20 points.

Anyone accused of driving at more than 25 mph over the limit may receive 50 points. The points added may be higher in cases where the citation occurs in a school zone or road construction zone.

Three or more moving violations accrued within 12 months, including speeding tickets, can be enough to cost you your license. The total number of points accrued through those citations determines how long the license suspension or revocation lasts. Points can also affect what you pay for insurance.

Can a traffic ticket lawyer reduce the points or fines for my ticket?

Yes, a traffic ticket defense attorney can help you reduce the impact of an Illinois speeding ticket. They could potentially help you negotiate a reduction of the citation to a nonmoving violation or convince the state to dismiss the ticket. Other times, they could be able to secure a plea bargain to a lesser traffic violation that carries fewer points and a lower fine.