Illinois Lawyer Referrals and Legal Guidance

We get a good number of calls from people who get traffic tickets – speeding, red light violation, etc. – and then notice that the ticket references the wrong intersection. Or their last name is misspelled, or the license plate has been written incorrectly.

If this has happened to you, you’re probably thinking you just got out of a ticket. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way. These types of errors are common and usually don’t make a difference in the outcome. In other words, your ticket isn’t going to get dismissed because the officer copied the wrong information off of your license.

There are many ways an error on a traffic ticket can be fixed. For example, the officer can simply testify that it was you, even if your name was spelled quite differently on the ticket. And the judge is likely to forgive such an error.

We’re not saying there aren’t other ways for you to avoid a conviction on your driving record. We almost always recommend consulting with a traffic defense attorney. They can usually work something out in your favor.

What you shouldn’t do is appear in court on your own and try to claim that the ticket is invalid because of a typo. You’re just going to annoy the judge, which is something you definitely don’t want to do. The best approach is to get an experienced and respected attorney who knows the ins and outs of traffic court and understands what actually matters to the judge.

To learn more visit, http://www.findgreatlawyers.com/IllTrafficLaw.htm

Since 2001, findgreatlawyers.com has been the leading resource for Illinois attorney referrals and legal guidance. If you would like our help please contact one of our lawyers via our on-line form or call (800) 517-1614. We are based in Chicago, but help people find attorneys for legal matters throughout Illinois.  All inquiries are free and confidential.

There are a lot of myths out there about what to do if you get pulled over or arrested. It can be difficult to know what to do. Should you take a breathalyzer? What if the cops want to search your car? Often, people agree to things they don’t have to agree to, simply because they don’t know that they can say no. And the police probably won’t tell you that you have a choice.

So here are a few things to remember if you are pulled over, arrested or brought in for questioning.

Don’t talk, too much. Be polite, hand over your license or whatever the situation calls for, but don’t start trying to get out of trouble or explain your side of the story. It really can be used against you later. And don’t sign a statement, or anything else for that matter, without the advice of an attorney.

Don’t take a field sobriety test (walking a straight line, etc.) if you’re pulled over, and you should seriously consider refusing the breathalyzer as well. There is no penalty for refusing the field sobriety tests. There is some debate about the breathalyzer because your license may be suspended for a time if you refuse. But honestly it’s nothing compared with getting a DUI. So don’t take the breathalyzer unless you are 100% sure you are 100% sober.

Don’t agree to a search, whether it’s your car or letting an officer into your home. Unless there is a search warrant, or probable cause, an officer can only conduct a search if you agree. So don’t agree just because you’re intimidated.

Don’t take legal advice from the cops. A police officer may tell you that your arrest or ticket is no big deal. Even worse, they may tell you that you don’t need a lawyer when you show up to court. Every criminal matter is potentially serious. At least talk to a lawyer and get some actual legal advice before deciding to handle something on your own.

And please, please, please don’t plead guilty without discussing your case with an attorney. We understand that you probably want to get it over with, and pleading guilty can seem like the path of least resistance. People even plead guilty when they’re completely innocent. A conviction can mean jail time, a big fine, a permanent record, a loss of driving privileges, and the list goes on and on.

Since 2001, findgreatlawyers.com has been the leading resource for Illinois attorney referrals and legal guidance. If you would like our help please contact one of our lawyers via our on-line form or call (800) 517-1614. We are based in Chicago, but help people find attorneys for legal matters throughout Illinois.  All inquiries are free and confidential.

If you had a court date at the Daley Center or one of the branch courts and you didn’t show up, the judge may have issued a warrant for your arrest. It’s called a bench warrant, or a failure to appear warrant.

Mistakes happen – maybe you got the date wrong, or you had a family emergency. Or maybe you were scared and made a conscious decision to avoid court. Either way, the sooner you deal with it the better.

The warrant isn’t going to go away on its own. It will follow you. Some people think they can simply avoid the police forever, but that’s no way to live. At any time you could get pulled over for something like a broken tail light and the officer will see the warrant in the system and arrest you. Getting caught isn’t going to look good to the judge.

You’re taking your chances by not dealing with the warrant. Instead, you can turn yourself in by going to the police and posting bail, or you can file a motion asking the judge to recall the warrant.

We usually suggest the second option. But don’t do it on your own – get an experienced attorney to file the motion and argue before the judge. The judge does not have to grant your request, so making a solid argument is key.

Warrants for failure to appear are issued against defendants in criminal matters. You won’t get a bench warrant in a divorce case or a civil lawsuit, although skipping court can negatively affect your case in other ways.

If you have a traffic violation that is punishable by fine only, then failing to appear will most likely result in an automatic conviction and fine, not a warrant. Your license can be suspended, as well.

A bench warrant on a traffic violation is only likely when the violation was more serious – DUI, reckless driving, driving on a suspended license, etc. These more serious violations are categorized as misdemeanors, meaning jail time (up to a year) is possible.

Since 2001, findgreatlawyers.com has been the leading resource for Illinois attorney referrals and legal guidance. If you would like our help please contact one of our lawyers via our on-line form or call (800) 517-1614. We are based in Chicago, but help people find attorneys for legal matters throughout Illinois.  All inquiries are free and confidential.