There are a variety of reasons that could cause your license to be suspended in the state of Illinois. Of course, there are more significant reasons, like receiving a DUI or fleeing the scene of an accident in the case of a hit and run. However, there are also some non-driving offenses that most people don't know about that can cause a loss of driving privileges.
The most common grounds for suspension include:
- A DUI Conviction
- Driving Points
- Hit and Run
- Reckless Driving Convictions
- Missing Court
- Failing to pay child support
If your license has been suspended the team at The Law Offices of Peter A Buh is here to help. Call us at 708-274-4499 to schedule a free consultation with a suspended license attorney in Illinois.
Getting a DUI Conviction
Getting a DUI Conviction in the state of Illinois is an automatic license suspension and one of the common reasons that people's licenses are suspended, and even permanently revoked. In your trial, various factors will be considered such as the influence of drugs and influence of alcohol as well as the circumstances of the arrest like excessive speeding and property damage.
Upon being convicted of your first DUI, your license will be suspended for at least 12 months. During this time you will not be eligible to apply for your license to be reinstated. Depending on the severity of the case, you may also be required to complete certain safety courses, alcohol counseling or alcohol treatment, and community service in addition to waiting the required period of time to get your driving privileges back.
A police officer may also fit your vehicle with an ignition interlock device when your revocation period ends and you are given a restricted license. This device requires you to check your blood alcohol content before driving and will not allow you to start the vehicle if you have reached the blood alcohol content limit.
With subsequent DUIs, the suspension periods just keep going up. If you are convicted a second time, you will have a 5-year suspension before you are eligible to go to court and try to get your license back. With a third conviction, you will lose your license for a minimum of 10 years and may face some jail time. If you receive a fourth conviction then you will automatically receive a lifetime suspension. This means that no matter how much time passes, you will not be eligible to reapply for a driver's license.
Acquiring Too Many Driving Points
Another common reason that people get their licenses suspended is because of acquiring too many driving points from various traffic tickets. The traffic laws in the state of Illinois have a points system for driver's licenses. This means that every traffic offense is worth a certain amount of points and when you receive one, it is added to your license. If you reach the maximum number of points, your license will be revoked for a certain time period.
The exact period of time that your license is suspended varies depending on how many points you've received and what convictions it was for. However, it will typically range from 30-day license suspensions to a full year.
Fleeing an Accident Site
If you were convicted of fleeing the scene in a hit-and-run car accident, then your license can also be suspended. The length of time that it is suspended will depend on the severity of the accident and if the other person involved was severely injured or killed.
Not Appearing in Court
If you are currently undergoing trial for an unrelated case and you are repeatedly missing court dates, they may decide to suspend your license as a consequence. This suspension will typically only last for the length of the case as long as you are cooperative with court dates and complete all necessary steps in your trial.
Missed Child Support or Other Court Ordered Payments
Another reason not related to a traffic violation that could result in your license being suspended is if you miss child support payments or any other payment related to a court case. This will usually not happen the first time that you miss a payment, but if you are consistently missing them then the court may turn to alternative methods. Upon demonstrating financial responsibility by making your payments on time your license will typically be reinstated.
How To Check if Your License is Suspended
To figure out if your license has been suspended you will need to consult your official driving record. The easiest way to do this is to contact the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) and request a copy of your driving record. This record will have all the up-to-date information on your driver's license, including whether or not it is currently suspended.
If your record says that your license is suspended that means that it is currently illegal for you to drive. If you are caught driving with a suspended license you can be charged with a Class A misdemeanor and have to pay a significant fine. In some cases, you can also face jail time for driving with a suspended license.
How to Get Your License Reinstated
If your Illinois driver's license has been suspended and you are ready to get it reinstated, there are a few things that you will need to do.
The first is to speak to a law firm, like The Law Offices of Peter A. Buh, that is well-versed in license reinstatements. They will be able to walk you through the process for license reinstatement in Illinois, ensuring that you don't miss any potentially important steps and get your license back as smoothly and quickly as possible.
Once you have an attorney they will help you to file the paperwork and attend any hearings with you. You will also have to pay a reinstatement fee that covers the process of getting your license back. Depending on your charge, this will be anywhere from $70 to $500.
You will also want to make sure that you have auto insurance so that when the conditions for reinstatement are met, you are not driving around in without valid insurance.
Our Law Firm is Here to Help With License Suspensions
If you or someone you know needs help with driver's license suspensions, contact us at The Law Offices of Peter A. Buh. Our license reinstatement lawyers have years of experience helping drivers fulfill all the conditions for reinstatement, and getting their licenses back as quickly as possible.