Traffic Offenses

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Traffic tickets in Illinois are not just a minor inconvenience, they are extremely expensive, and can lead to serious penalties including license suspension, extremely high fines, and even jail time.

Proceeding without a lawyer and waiting to see if the police officer shows is a poor gamble these days because of the high stakes nature of Illinois Traffic Offenses. Speeding, for example, was recently “upgraded” to a mandatory criminal conviction (with a potential jail sentence, increased insurance costs, and potential suspension) if a driver is accused of driving 26 miles over the speed limit. The speed limit on I-94 is 65 mph, so getting caught going over 91 miles an hour could result in jail, a lost license, and several hundred dollars in fines and court costs unless you hire a skilled Criminal Defense Attorney.

Illinois is facing an unprecedented financial crisis. The politicians in Springfield wont cut spending or raise taxes, so they increase revenues wherever they can- including the costs that are assessed drivers for Traffic Offenses. A $100 fine on a speeding violation may cost a driver almost $400 once court costs are tacked on.

Illinois does provide a limited option for some drivers, accused of some offenses called Court Supervision. If you receive Supervision, the Judge will order you to pay fines and costs, likely go to traffic school, perhaps perform service hours, and will order you to receive no new traffic offenses for a period of time. The upside is that if you successfully complete your supervision, you will not receive a conviction, and your insurance rates will not go up. Whether you receive supervision is up to the Judge and the Prosecutor, so hiring a Criminal Defense Attorney skilled in negotiation increases the odds you will receive this favorable result.

Traffic Court is rarely held at convenient times for working people, and the number of tickets marked ‘must appear’, increases every year. If your ticket is marked ‘must appear’, there is a possibility that your presence in court may be waived if you obtain a Criminal Defense Attorney with a good working relationship with Judges and Prosecutors who may be willing to excuse your absence.

If you have been charged with any of the offenses listed below, you should immediately contact an experienced Lake County Criminal Defense Attorney:

• Reckless Driving
• Speeding 26 or more miles over the speed limit
• Passing a School Bus
• Speeding in a Construction Zone
• Railroad Violation
• 2 or more moving violations in two years
• Fake ID
• Liquor Violations
• Driving while Suspended or Revoked (DWLS/DWLR)
• Failing to Yield to an Emergency Vehicle
• Leaving the Scene
• Uninsured Crash
• Failure to Appear/Vacating old Convictions

A skilled Libertyville and Gurnee traffic violation attorney, such as the ones here at JTLG, LLC, will help you achieve optimal results in your traffic case. This may include a reduction of the charges, lower fines, a sentence of Supervision, or even a dismissal.

Driving While License Suspended (DWLS)

Driving While Licenses Suspended (DWLS), and the related charge of Driving While Licensed Revoked (DWLR) are extremely serious traffic violations. Depending on the reason for the suspension and a person’s prior record, jail time is often the result of a DWLS/DWLR conviction. Fines and court costs for these offenses often run $1,000 or more for a single violation.

At a minimum, DWLS/DWLR are Class-A misdemeanors, punishable by up to a year in County Jail. If the charge is Aggravated DWLS/DWLR, and this can be for a number of reasons, including prior offenses and the underlying reason for the suspension, a person may be sentenced to serve multiple years in the State Penitentiary (Department of Corrections).

Even if you are charged with a first-time offense of DWLS or DWLR, you need to speak with an experienced Lake County Criminal Defense and Traffic Violation Attorney right away. You can go to jail if this case is not handled properly. Fixing the damage done to your driving record after the fact can be much more difficult and costly than receiving good advice at the outset.

An experienced Criminal Defense Attorney with a full appreciation of the workings of both the rules and regulations of the Office of the Illinois Secretary of State, who is responsible for drivers’ licenses, can help clients navigate these difficult cases and achieve the best results.  Often, a Criminal Defense Attorney must convince the Presiding Judge to grant a lengthy continuance or series of continuances to address the underlying suspension, which will allow for a favorable resolution of the current case.

Every case is different, and the approach for each client will be different. If you have been charged with DWLS or DWLR, you should immediately contact this firm at the number below to set up a free initial consultation. Prior to our meeting, you should obtain from the Secretary of State’s Office a copy of your driving record, which is called a Driving Abstract for Court Purposes, for a $12 fee.

Driving Under the Influence (DUI)

Getting a ticket for Driving under the Influence of Alcohol or other drugs is a serious matter in Illinois and can result in extreme and severe punishment. These consequences can include suspension and/or revocation of your driver’s license, imprisonment, fines and court costs running into the several thousands of dollars, mandatory treatment and public service hours, and permanent damage to your present and future employment. Naturally, it is important to have the best possible representation on your side and that is where JTLG, LLC comes in. We know that, even though the government’s case may seem strong, it is possible to reach a favorable resolution resulting in minimal damage to your livelihood. We know the law, the judges, the prosecutors, and we work tirelessly to ensure our clients are treated fairly so they may achieve the best possible results.

This law firm understands mistakes can occur, but a single night’s poor choices need not permanently derail an offender’s career. A DUI arrest isn’t the end of the world. You will eventually be able to pick yourself up and move forward. Drawing upon the knowledge and experience with the law, our team will work with you to find your best path forward. We will work closely with you to achieve a positive outcome and obtain closure. To obtain optimal results for our clients, this firm leverages years of experience assisting countless others in similar circumstances, as well as perspective gained by prosecuting cases for DUI and related offenses, and personal relationships with key personnel in the Lake County courts.

Favorable dispositions may be obtained through successful negotiation of an advantageous plea bargain to avoid a risky trial, or by directly challenging the government’s evidence against you, either through a motion to suppress evidence gathered illegally, a petition to rescind (cancel) the mandatory license suspension, or through a direct assault on the government’s case at trial. This firm is proud of its zealous advocacy on behalf of the allegedly impaired driver, guided by thoughtful perspective and deep understanding of the law and science of DUI investigation.

Regardless of the strength of the case against you, our firm will ensure that you are armed with the best possible advice and counsel and we will stand at your side throughout the entire case, fighting for your rights.

In order to properly evaluate your particular case and provide effective counsel and expert advice, the firm will need to review the details that are involved. This includes your past driving record, the ticket you were issued by the arresting officer, and other documents provided to you at the time of arrest, including a document called the Sworn Report. If you have prior alcohol related offenses of any kind, or prior license suspensions, you will need to obtain a driving abstract from a Secretary of State’s office for a $12 fee.

This firm provides free consultation during a face-to-face meeting at our office where you will be given the chance to tell your side of the story as well as provide any additional materials. You will have the opportunity to have your questions answered and receive an attorney’s initial assessment regarding your optimal strategy and probable results going forward. You will also be quoted a flat fee for legal services for representation from arraignment (first court date) through trial or plea.

Don’t wait any longer. Finding our firm’s website was the first step. Now take the next step by calling our office TODAY for a free consultation with an experienced Lake County DUI attorney.

Contact the Libertyville and Gurnee Traffic Violation and DUI Lawyers at Johnston Tomei Lenczycki & Goldberg LLC Today

If you are being accused of a traffic violation or a DUI, it is important for your livelihood to obtain a proper legal defense. Our traffic violation and DUI attorneys will represent you in your case. Call us today for a no charge initial consultation.