For some Americans, driving is one of the small pleasures in life. Going for a drive gives you a sense of freedom and independence that is unique and unparalleled when compared with other activities. However, for many, driving is more than just a fun activity. It can be a necessity, and being unable to drive can directly affect one's livelihood. Most people would think that a moving violation, or an infraction committed while driving, is the only way to lose your driving privileges. While this is one potential reason why a driver's license may be suspended or revoked, there are many other ways you can lose your legal ability to drive. In fact, some of these circumstances are not directly related to driving, or they may not have anything to do with driving at all. These cases include:

Driving While Under the Influence

One of the most obvious ways you can lose your driving privileges is by driving while you are under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol (DUI). Under Illinois’ statutory summary suspension law, you will automatically have your driver's license suspended if your blood alcohol content (BAC) is more than 0.08 when you were arrested or if you refuse to take a chemical test of your BAC. This suspension will take place even if you are not convicted of DUI charges. If you are convicted, you will face additional penalties alongside the statutory summary suspension. 

Failing to Pay Child Support

The state of Illinois believes that every parent has a duty to financially provide for their children. Because of this, child support orders are taken extremely seriously. If you do not pay your legally mandated child support, or if you fall behind on your payments, you could lose your driving privileges. After three months have passed since your last payment, the process to suspend your driver’s license will commence.

Failing to Pay Fines or Parking Tickets or Appear in Court

If you have more than 10 unpaid parking tickets, your municipality may request to have your driver’s license suspended. Likewise, you can also have your driving privileges suspended if you have failed to pay five or more automated traffic violation fines or fees. If your presence is requested in court, and you fail to appear during your hearing, the court may take away your driving privileges. The Circuit Clerk’s office can request to have your driving privileges suspended.

There is more than one way to lose your driving privileges in Illinois; in fact, there are dozens of ways you could have your driver's license taken away for either a specific or indefinite period of time. Even actions unrelated to driving, such as not paying child support or failing to obey a court summons, can affect your ability to drive freely. Perhaps one of the most common ways for Illinoisians to lose their driving privileges is to accumulate too many points on their driving record because of traffic violations.

The Illinois Points System

Most states have a driver’s license points system that applies to everyone who holds a driver’s license, and Illinois is no exception. In Illinois, each time you are convicted of a moving violation, a certain number of points is added to your driving record. The number of points added depends on the specific violation you were convicted of. Typically, more serious violations will result in a higher number of points added to your record, while lesser violations are not worth as many points. Common moving violations and their corresponding points are as follows:

• Speeding: 5-50 points, depending on how fast you were going over the limit

• Passing a school bus illegally: 25 points

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With the rise of technology, almost everyone has a computer in their pocket these days -- their cell phones. While these handy devices can make life easier for us, they have also proven to make life more dangerous. In an effort to prevent drivers from using their electronic devices while driving, a new Illinois law that will take effect in July will increase the consequences that drivers will face when caught using an electronic device while driving. This new law will make a first-time offense of using an electronic device while driving a moving violation, rather than just a warning.

New Law Changes Penalties for First-Time Offenders

Before the new law was enacted, the Illinois Vehicle Code stated that drivers needed to be caught using an electronic device while driving at least twice before any disciplinary action would be taken against them. Under the new law, drivers only need to be caught using an electronic device once before they are issued a ticket for a moving violation. Beginning in July of this year, first-time offenders who use an electronic device while driving will see the infraction on their driving record. If drivers commit the offense more than three times in a 12-month period, they will face a driver’s license suspension. In addition to the violations, they will also face fines as follows:

• First offense: $75
• Second offense: $100
• Third offense: $125
• Fourth or subsequent offense: $150

Scope of the Problem

Though various governments and state police officers across the nation have been cracking down on distracted driving, it still remains an issue. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 3,450 people were killed as a result of distracted driving in 2016, and nearly 400,000 people were injured by distracted driving accidents in 2015. The handheld use of electronic devices has decreased, but the NHTSA states that using an electronic device in any way while driving increases your risk of crashing by 3.6 times.

Contact a DuPage County Traffic Violations Attorney

Though a first-time offense of driving while using an electronic device is now a moving violation, it can easily become a misdemeanor or felony if you cause someone else great bodily harm or death because of a crash. At the Davi Law Group, LLC, we understand the gravity of distracted driving violations. Our skilled Wheaton, IL traffic violations lawyers can help you form a solid defense against any traffic charges you may face. Call our office today at 630-580-6373 to schedule a free consultation.

There is a multitude of reasons you can have your driving privileges taken away from you -- being convicted of a DUI, not paying your traffic tickets, not showing up in court and not paying child support are just a few ways you can have your license suspended or revoked. Whatever the reason, driving while your license is suspended or revoked is a bad idea. It can lead to even more trouble, like hefty fines and in some cases, jail time. Being caught driving while your license is suspended or revoked can also make it more difficult to have your license reinstated and may even increase the amount of time that your license is suspended or revoked.

First Offense

According to Illinois law, a person who is caught driving with a suspended or revoked license will be charged with a Class A misdemeanor for a first offense. You will face a mandatory sentence of 10 days in jail or 30 days of community service and fines of up to $2,500. If you were driving on a suspended license, your license will be suspended for double the original suspension period. If you were driving on a revoked license, your license will be revoked for an additional year.

Second Offense

If you are caught driving on a suspended or revoked license a second time, you will be charged with a Class 4 felony. This means you will face a minimum of 30 days in jail or 300 hours of community service. You will also face a suspension of your driving privileges for double the original suspension period or an additional year added to your revocation period. A second offense can also result in your vehicle being seized or forfeited. If your first suspension or revocation of your driver’s license was for charges such as reckless homicide, DUI, refusing a chemical test or leaving the scene of a crash, you will be charged with a Class 2 felony.

Have You Been Caught Driving With a Suspended or Revoked License? A Wheaton, IL Criminal Defense Attorney Can Help

Nobody likes having their driving privileges taken away from them. Though your life becomes difficult after your license has been suspended or revoked, your life will be even more difficult if you are caught driving during your suspension or revocation period. At the Davi Law Group, LLC, we understand how suspended or revoked licenses can affect your everyday life. Our experienced DuPage County license suspension lawyers can help you mitigate any charges that you may be facing for driving on a suspended or revoked license and our knowledgeable driver’s license reinstatement lawyers can help you get back behind the wheel as soon as possible. Call our office today at 630-580-6373 to schedule a free consultation.

During a recent four-year period, there were more than 4,500 motor vehicle crashes in Illinois roadway work zones, with nearly 1,100 injuries and 27 deaths. With those unfortunate statistics, you can see why the State of Illinois and law enforcement take construction zone traffic violations so seriously.

Getting pulled over for excessive speed or texting on your phone in a work zone can prove costly, and put your driving privileges in jeopardy if you have previous infractions on your driving record. Here is a look at what you could face if convicted of a work zone speed limit or phone violation:

Speeding in Illinois Construction Zones

Many drivers incorrectly believe construction zone speed limits only apply if workers are present. The truth is, motorists account for 90 percent of all work zone fatalities, and these limits are primarily posted for the safety of drivers and passengers, typically due to narrow lanes, lane reductions, and edge drop-offs. Traveling at a slower speed gives a driver more time to adjust to these conditions.

Construction zone speed limit signs can be identified by the orange “WORK ZONE” tag atop the standard black-and-white sign. Flashing lights are not required on these signs in Illinois.