Plenty of people make mistakes on the road that lead to citations and tickets. Most people don’t assume that those tickets or citations are very serious, but the reality is that even something as simple as a speeding ticket can have a negative impact on your life.
In Illinois, there is a points-based system that will affect your insurance. The points-based system may also lead to the loss of your license once you collect too many.
Depending on the violation, you may have many points added to your license. If you commit three or more offenses in a 12-month period, then you could have your license revoked or suspended. Whether it’s suspended or revoked will depend on how many points you’ve accrued.
What are the point penalties for driving offenses?
There are dozens of traffic violations that could lead to you having points on your license. For example, the following violations lead to 10 points on your license:
- Failure to obey lawful order or authorized officer
- Violation of GDL – passenger limitation for drivers under the age of 18
- Operating a motor vehicle with registration covers
- Speeding too quickly for the conditions
There are other offenses that may result in more than 10 points, such as:
- Failing to stop to exchange information or render aid after a collision (personal injury or death involved) – 50 points
- Disregarding traffic-control light – 20 points
- Speeding 15 to 25 mph over the limit – 20 points
There are some offenses that will lead to only five points and others that will lead to 55. If you’re cited for a violation, make sure you understand what that violation is and how it may affect your license. For example, if you were speeding 15 mph over the limit and can get that dropped to 14, you will prevent five additional points from being added to your record.
The points system is unique in Illinois, but it can still lead to serious problems for you. Your insurance rates may increase, and multiple offenses may lead to the loss of your license. It’s always a good idea to defend yourself so that you can reduce the likelihood of serious penalties.