The spring and summer traffic season is fast approaching in the Chicago area. As is the case every year, motorists can expect increased delays due to construction, and holiday traffic jams.
But motorists can also expect what has become an annual tradition on Chicago region highways: increased enforcement of work zone speed limits by automated traffic cameras.
State law allows the Illinois State Police to designate works zones on interstate highways as speed zones where the posted speed limit can be enforced by an automated traffic control camera. The law allows the police to issue speeding tickets even where no police officer is physically present and no officer can testify in court that he saw the motorist speeding.
The Automated Traffic Control Systems in Highway Construction or Maintenance Zones Act (625 ILCS 7/1) allows the State Police to issue speeding tickets for drivers who are traveling less than 30 miles an hour over the speed limit in any work zone when they are photographed by an automated system.
A motorist who violates the speed limit and is photographed will receive a ticket in the mail ordering them to appear in the county Circuit Court.
The minimum fine for speeding in a work zone is $250 plus court costs, which is usually $375 total, as indicated on the warning signs.
Speeding in a work zone is a moving violation, and thus, it can result in a suspended license. In fact, the rules concerning moving violations and the resultant suspended license have an exception for work zone speeding tickets.
For an adult who is 21 years of age or older, the Secretary of State will suspend his license for three moving violations in 12 months. But there is an exception to the rule concerning work zone speeding tickets.
It only takes two work zone speeding tickets to lose one’s license. The Secretary of State is authorized to suspend a person’s driver’s license for 90 days for two work zone speeding tickets within any 24-month period of time. 625 ILCS 5/11-605.1(g).
If you receive a ticket by mail directing you to appear in court, you should consult with an attorney. Two years is a long time to watch out for work zone traffic cameras. If you get only one speeding ticket from a work zone traffic camera, you are halfway towards losing your license.
An attorney who is qualified to represent you in traffic court may be able to get ticket dismissed. There are multiple technicalities on which a judge could dismiss the ticket or find you not guilty. Consult with a lawyer.
