OVERVIEW OF ILLINOIS CDL SPEEDING TICKETS AND OTHER TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS IN COOK AND LAKE COUNTY ILLINOIS
DRIVING A COMMERCIAL VEHICLE WITH OUT A CDL LICENSE VIOLATIONS
The requirements for a CDL license and other vehicle equipment requirements and classifications in Illinois can be found here: CDL Requirements and Classifications
CDL SPEEDING AND TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS IN PERSONAL VEHICLES VS. WORK TRUCKSAlthough the Illinois Rules of the Road for CDL drivers operating commercial vehicles are certainly much different that the Illinois Rules of the Road for Non - CDL drivers a CDL holder is hled to a higher standard of accountability for speeding, accidents, and other traffic violations whether they are operating their work or personal vehicles. A CDL commercial driver must always recognize that under Illinois their driving record is personal to them at all times and not a particular vehicle they are operating or whether they are working or not. No matter what State a CDL driver is licensed in a speeding ticket, accident or other traffic violation in Cook or Lake County Illinois will directly negatively impact their CDL license if not handled properly.
HOW COURT SUPERVISION IN COOK OR LAKE COUNTY ILLINOIS AFFECTS A CDL LICENSE
Often a sentence of court supervision may be a favorable outcome in resolving a speeding ticket or other traffic violation in Cook or Lake County for a non CDL driver in Illinois. The concept of court supervision is explained in detail here by the Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court. Court Supervisions are recorded differently on a CDL holders driving record in Illinois and elsewhere. For many traffic violations the Illinois Secretary of State treats a sentence of court supervision as if it were a conviction. Court supervision will not always prevent the disqualification or suspension of your CDL and also will not prevent the ticket from appearing on your public driving record even if you were in your personal vehicle at the time of the offense.
DISQUALIFICATION OR SUSPENSION OF AN ILLINOIS CDL LICENSE SPEEDING OR OTHER TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS
Under Illinois law, a CDL driver is disqualified from operating a Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) if while driving a CMV they either commit two “serious traffic violations” such as speeding 15 mph or more over the posted limit, reckless driving, improper lane usage, improper passing, texting while driving/using a cell phone while operating a commercial motor vehicle, and following too closely in Cook or Lake County Illinois and other public highways across Illinois.
A driver is disqualified from operating a CMV if while driving a non-CMV they either commit two serious traffic violations within a three-year period or commit three such violations within a three-year period if the convictions would result in the suspension or revocation of the CDL holder's non-CMV privileges. Two serious violations within three years will lead to a minimum two-month disqualification while three violations within the same period will result in a minimum four-month disqualification. It is often possible to avoid or mitigate these consequences with proper legal representation in Cook or Lake County for these speeding tickets and other traffic violations.
HOW ATTORNEY RICHARD ALBANESE HELPS CDL DRIVERS WITH SPEEDING TICKETS OR OTHER TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS IN COOK AND LAKE COUNTY
Whether your ticket is in a personal vehicle or truck I will generally first review you driving history to determine what threat and potential negative impact the speeding ticket or other traffic violation in Cook or Lake Coutny poses to your CDL licensure and livelihood. I then will analyze the facts of your case to determine if a possible defense to the speeding ticket or other traffic citation exists.
In most cases I will also consider seeking an amended charge that will not affect your CDL license in a negative manner. Equipment Violations are provided for under certain sections of the Illinois vehicle code and if obtained as a disposition will generally almost always insulate the CDL driver's record from harm. This equipment offenses will not affect CDL privileges and are not a points-assigned violation (commonly referred to as a “moving violation”) for purposes of triggering a suspension or revocation of drivers' non-CMV driving privileges. Each speeding ticket and other traffic violation in Cook and Lake County present a unique circumstance dpending on the court hearign the citation and of course the CDL driver's previous driving history. I am retained by many trucking companies and individual CDL drivers and owner-operators and take pride in fighting to protect your CDL license and commercial driving career.
