Illinois Driving Points System
Traffic violations can result in serious consequences, including loss of driving privileges. If you’ve received a ticket, contact a Chicago traffic lawyer to find out how you can minimize the penalties. O’Meara Law LLC has the experience and knowledge to help you handle what could be a difficult situation. Call us today at 312-909-0706 to find out how we can help you.
Driving Violations Lead to Points
In Illinois, drivers that commit moving violations receive points to their driving records. The points system is meant to keep track of how well—or poorly—each driver is respecting the rules of the road. Drivers who get too many points will see their driver’s licenses suspended. Points do eventually expire after a certain amount of time, depending on the violation.
As an Illinois driver, it’s important to have a basic understanding of the points system and to keep track of where you stand. If you’re unsure of how many points you have, you can request a copy of your driving record from the Secretary of State. Some people end up driving while their licenses are suspended without their knowledge. Unfortunately, ignorance is no defense to driving with a suspended license.
How Many Points Do I Get for Committing a Moving Violation?
The number of points the Secretary of State will add to your license depends on the severity of your infraction. You can find a complete list of points assigned to infractions here.
Here are some examples:
- Screeching tires—10 points
- Speeding in a school zone—20 points
- Ignoring a traffic signal—20 points
- Improper passing—20 points
- Driving with liquor in the passenger area—25 points
- Failure to stop after colliding with an unattended vehicle—15 points
- Failure to stop after a collision causing no injuries—25 points
- Failure to stop after a collision causing injury—50 points
- Driving below the minimum speed limit—5 points
- Going 1 to 10 mph over the speed limit—5 points
- Exceeding the speed limit by 11 – 14 mph—15 points
- Speeding over 25 mph over the limit—50 points
- Reckless driving—55 points
These infractions will be visible on your driving record for 4 to 5 years after the fact. However, if the offense involved drugs or alcohol, it will be permanently listed on your driver’s record.
What Are the Consequences of Accumulating Points on My License?
Your insurance company has access to your driving record, and if they see that you’ve accumulated points, they may raise your premiums. When you have a particularly bad driving record, you will be labeled a “high-risk driver” and face extremely expensive insurance premiums.
Further, you run the risk of having your license suspended, or even revoked if you get too many points.
- 0-14 points—no action
- 15 to 44 points—2 month suspension
- 45 to 74 points—3 month suspension
- 75 to 89 points—6 month suspension
- 90 to 99 points—9 month suspension
- 100 to 109 points—12 month suspension
- 110 points or more—License revoked
You may also face a license suspension if you get 3 or more moving violations within a 12-month period. They can add up fast, especially since you can get multiple traffic citations at once. To get your driving privileges back, you may need to complete a driver improvement course. Your driver’s license suspension will be visible to your insurance company for 7 years after license reinstatement.
Hiring an Illinois Traffic Citation Lawyer
Just because you get pulled over and cited doesn’t mean that you have to pay fines and have points added to your license. In many cases, it‘s possible to contest your moving violation and avoid the harsh consequences of a conviction. If you get a ticket, you should talk to an attorney with experience in fighting traffic citations.
At O’Meara Law LLC, we’ve helped countless Illinois drivers stay on the roads by fighting their traffic citations. We’ve also assisted with obtaining reinstatement of suspended licenses. If you’re concerned about maintaining your driving privileges, call us today at 312-909-0706 for a free and confidential consultation.