How to Contest Speeding Tickets in Illinois
Not only do speeding tickets tend to be expensive in Illinois, they can ruin your day. What many Illinois residents do not realize is that they can contest their speeding ticket in court if they believe the ticket to be unjust, or they can take driving courses to get it erased off their record. Always try to fight a speeding ticket, instead of just accepting the fine. Speeding fines range from $75- $300.
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Instructions
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Driving School To Erase a Ticket
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Write a letter to the judge requesting to take a defensive driving course. Mail this request along with the ticket to the address printed on the ticket envelope. The court will let you know whether they approve you for this course.
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Attend and complete the course. The course takes eight hours to complete, and you will receive a certificate in the mail upon completion. Give the court a copy of this certificate, and the ticket will be erased from your driving record.
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Go to the courthouse and give the courthouse clerk a copy of this certificate. The ticket will be erased from your driving record.
Fighting by Trial
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Check the "not guilty" box on the ticket if you feel it is unjust. You will receive a court summons in the mail.
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Go to the courthouse indicated on the summons and file for a change of venue to a courthouse closer to where you live. This will increase the chance that the ticketing officer will not show. If the officer does not show, you will win by default.
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Go to court on the date of your hearing, and argue your side of the case. If the judge rules in your favor, you will not need to pay the ticket. If you are found guilty, you will have to pay the full ticket and any court fees that the judge rules apply to you.
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Tips & Warnings
You can call a traffic ticket attorney to help you determine if you can successfully contest the ticket in court or determine if getting the ticket removed is worth the cost of the legal fees.
