Top 10 Commercial Drivers License (CDL) Traffic Tickets in Illinois (2020).
The following is a list of traffic tickets a CDL holder is advised to hire legal representation in order to protect CDL driving privileges. Two serious moving violations in any 36-month period will result in a CDL being suspended for a minimum of two months. See 625 ILCS 5/6-514(e).
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10. Illinois Overweight Truck Ticket
A truck may be pulled over if any Illinois police officer has reason to believe the vehicle is overweight. See 625 ILCS 5/15-112. Overweight tickets are not serious traffic violations for CDL disqualification purposes. However, a truck grossly overweight beyond the permit carried can skyrocket fines well over into the stratosphere upwards to the tens of thousands of dollars. An overweight truck lawyer may substantially reduce the fines that are paid for these violations. -
9. Illinois Driving on a Suspended License
For the CDL driver, the most common type of license suspension occurs for failing to comply with a prior traffic ticket issued in a different state and that reporting state notifies the home state where the CDL was issued and the home state suspends the CDL driver. Driving While License Suspended (DWLS) is a Class A Criminal Misdemeanor in Illinois. In addition to criminal penalties, Driving While License Suspended is a serious moving violation for the CDL driver in Illinois. -
8. Illinois Speeding Through Construction Zone
Under Illinois law, there are enhanced penalties for speeding in a construction zone. See 625 ILCS 5/11-605.1. In addition to higher fines than a regular petty speeding ticket. A first violation of this statute is a petty offense for the non- CDL holder. However, speeding above the posted speed limit through a construction zone is considered a serious moving offense for the CDL holder. The situation looks worse if the officer writes "workers present" on the ticket. -
7. Illinois Truck Accident Ticket
The duty to exercise reasonable care to avoid causing damage or injury to others applies to all persons. CDL drivers operate oversize vehicles. As such the CDL holder found in violation of failing to reduce speed to avoid an accident is guilty of a serious moving violation. -
6. Illinois Driving and Talking on a Hand Held Cell Phone without a Headset Ticket
Today, newer passenger vehicles are equipped with one-touch button and built-in blue tooth systems. While this is considered a standard option in the modern era - this feature is not available in many commercial vehicles. Driving and talking on a cell phone without a hands-free or head set device is prohibited. This is a serious moving violation for the CDL driver. -
5. Illinois Texting and Driving Ticket
Distracted Driving is any activity that could pull a driver's attention away from the task of driving. Illinois has prohibition laws regarding the use of electronic communication devices while driving. The law for the purpose of this section refers to cell phones, handheld mobile music player devices, tablet devices; but does not include GPS systems or anything that is physically integrated into the motor vehicle. In general, the use of these electronic devices while driving on a public roadway is not allowed. For the CDL Driver, Illinois texting while driving is already considered a serious moving violation for CDL disqualification. -
4. Illinois DUI Ticket
Illinois treats DUI offenders very seriously. For the non-CDL driver, operating a motor vehicle with a Blood Alcohol Concentration of 0.08 or more is guilty of Driving Under the Influence. See 625 ILCS 5/11-501(a)(1). For the CDL driver, this threshold has been lowered down to a BAC of 0.04 or more. In addition to criminal penalties for both types of drivers, the CDL driver will be facing Illinois disqualification on the 46th day following DUI arrest. -
3. Illinois Failure to Yield to Emergency Vehicle
In 2019, Illinois law enforcement has been cracking down on what is called the "Move Over" Law. Otherwise known as "Scott's Law", named in honor of Scott Gillen of the Chicago Fire Department who was struck and killed by a drunk driver while assisting at a crash on a Chicago Expressway. When approaching a stationary emergency vehicle that is displaying flashing warning lights, Illinois CDL drivers must slow down; drive with caution; and move over to another lane. If changing
lanes is unsafe then the CDL driver must safely reduce speed and proceed with caution. See 625 ILCS 5/11-907(c). Violations for this serious CDL offense is punishable with fines up to $10,000. -
2. Illinois Improper Lane Usage Ticket
Otherwise known as "keep right" laws, the LEFT lane is only to be used for I-Passing, overtaking, left lane exiting and other emergency and practical related exceptions. While the law is not aggressively enforced against the non-CDL holders operating smaller passenger cars, oversized vehicles traveling in the left lane are easily targeted due to the sheer size size of being present in the left lane. A finding of guilty to improper lane usage places the CDL driver in danger for CDL disqualification. -
1. Illinois Speeding 15 mph or More than the Posted Speed Limit Ticket
Speeding 26 miles per hour or more above the legal posted speed limit is criminal aggravated speeding in Illinois. See 625 ILCS 5/11-601.5. For the CDL driver, speeding even 15 miles per hour or more above the posted legal speed limit is considered a serious moving offense that can risk CDL driver disqualification. Many times police and State troopers employ the use of RADAR and LIDAR to measure speed. Speeding is a statutory offense in Illinois. It is no legal defense for driver to not be aware how fast they were traveling in the vehicle.
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Call and Speak to an Illinois Traffic Lawyer Today.
It is extremely important not to mail in payment and not to ask for traffic safety school for any serious moving ticket violation. It does not matter whether a CDL driver asks for Court Supervision - doing so only results in placing a conviction on the (MVR) motor vehicle record. Furthermore, arrangements will have to be made to take time off away from work in order to physically attend traffic school inside the county of the State where the traffic ticket was issued. Certain violations can increase insurance rates and result in a disqualification or suspension of CDL driving privileges.
Again, it does not matter whether the judge grants Court Supervision. For the non-CDL driver, Court Supervision is considered a deferred prosecution and not a conviction. While Court Supervision for the non-CDL holder is an attractive outcome - the consequence is not the same for the CDL driver. Court Supervision on these serious moving offenses count as convictions against the CDL driver. Conviction means...the payment of a fine or court cost regardless of whether the imposition of sentence is deferred and ultimately a judgment dismissing the underlying charge is entered. See 625 ILCS 5/6-500(8).
