Road work areas are a common sight on Illinois roads. While they can be a nuisance, leading to slow traffic and difficulty navigating unfamiliar traffic patterns, they can also lead to serious consequences for drivers who commit traffic violations. Failure to follow traffic laws in construction zones can result in expensive tickets, and drivers may even face criminal charges in some cases.

Construction Zone Speeding Violations

The speed limit is usually lowered in work zones, and signs will be posted notifying drivers that they must reduce speed and displaying the fines a person may face for speeding in a construction zone. Work areas are often closely monitored by police officers, or photo enforcement may be used to ensure that motorists are taking the proper measures to protect the safety of workers. Drivers are required to follow work zone speed limits even if there are no workers present.

For a first offense of speeding in a construction zone in Illinois, a driver will face a minimum fine of $375. Any subsequent violations will result in a minimum fine of $750. A second offense within two years will result in the suspension of a person’s driver’s license for 90 days.

Getting a speeding ticket is never pleasant, but if it happens to you, you may at least expect that the worst that can happen is you will have to pay a fine. However, in some situations, speeding in Illinois can result in significantly greater penalties, including criminal charges. It is important to be aware of the extent of the consequences you may face for speeding so that you can determine whether you need an attorney to help you contest the charges.

When Is Speeding a Criminal Offense in Illinois?

The severity of possible penalties for speeding depends on how far above the speed limit you were traveling and the area in which the violation occurred. In general, speeding offenses that can result in Illinois criminal charges fall under the category of aggravated speeding, which is defined as driving more than 25 miles per hour over the posted speed limit. Specifically:

• Traveling between 25 and 35 miles per hour above the speed limit is a Class B misdemeanor, with potential consequences including up to six months of imprisonment and up to $1,500 in fines.

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Being involved in a car accident can rattle you to the core, causing you to behave in ways that you normally would not. With adrenaline pumping through your veins, your body tells you that you have two options: stay and deal with the situation or run. If you are confused and scared by the situation, you might panic and leave the crash site. Fleeing the scene of a car accident is never a good idea and, in fact, is illegal in Illinois. If you have been accused of leaving the scene of an auto accident, you can face serious criminal penalties.

What to Do After an Accident

In the state of Illinois, traffic laws govern what motorists must do after being involved in a vehicle collision. Even though the consequences for fleeing the scene depend on the type of accident, there are specific actions that Illinois law requires all drivers to do, including:

• Stop immediately and move your vehicle to the side of the road, if possible.

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Not all traffic tickets are created equally. While some traffic violations may only result in a monetary fine, others can result in much more severe consequences and even criminal penalties. All traffic offenses are serious, but some traffic violations can become even more consequential depending on the location. According to the Illinois Road and Transportation Builders Association (IRTBA), in 2017, there were a total of 5,423 work zone motor vehicle crashes, resulting in 1,435 injuries and 30 fatalities, many of which were caused by speeding drivers. In Illinois, construction zones are one of those locations in which you could face criminal penalties for actions that would be considered minor violations in other places.

Work Zone Considerations

Some people believe that they do not have to worry about speeding tickets if the work zone is not currently active, but this is incorrect. Even if there are no workers present in the construction zone, you are still required by law to follow the posted speed limit, or you risk the penalties for speeding in a work zone.

Another fact you should consider is that you do not have to be going “aggravated” speeds over the speed limit to feel the effects of a construction zone speeding ticket. If you are caught speeding in a construction zone, you face a minimum of $375 fine for a first offense and a minimum $1,000 fine for a second offense.

Hearing sirens and seeing flashing blue and red lights behind you is never a good feeling, especially if you are unsure why you are being pulled over. Some people panic when this happens, while others become extremely anxious and nervous. No matter the reason you are being pulled over, your behavior and actions during the traffic stop can influence the outcome of the stop. There are certain things that you should and should not do when you are pulled over by police. Here are a few tips to follow if you are pulled over by a police officer in Illinois:

• As soon as you notice police are trying to pull you over, immediately slow down and look for a safe place to stop. If there are no immediate places to safely pull over, put your hazard lights on while you look.

• Once you have safely pulled over, roll your windows down and keep your hands in plain view, such as in your lap or on the steering wheel. Do not reach for anything unless the officer has asked you to do so.

• Do not get out of your vehicle unless the officer has asked you to. If you try to exit your vehicle without permission, the officer may perceive that as a threat.

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