Arrested in Randolph or Perry Counties?

Speeding Tickets

Speeding is another category of traffic violation that could be punishable by significant fines and points on your driving record. In particular, Illinois examines 2 types of speeding – basic speeding and absolute speeding. Basic speeding generally requires a driver to operate their vehicle at a safe and reasonable speed depending on the traffic conditions present, which may vary. Absolute speeding limits, on the other hand, set fixed speeding limits drivers are required to follow (that is, they are not based on the circumstances of the road and weather). Some examples of such fixed limits are:

• 70 mph on interstate highways;
• 30 mph on urban district roadways;
• 15 mph in urban district alleys; and
• 20 mph in school zones.

The specific fines for a speeding ticket will generally depend on the circumstances of the speeding offense:

• 1-20 mph over the limit – $120 fine;
• 21-25 mph over the limit – $140 fine;
• 26-34 mph over the limit – Class B misdemeanor with 6 months in jail and up to $1,500 in fines;
• 35 mph or more over the limit – Class A misdemeanor with up to 1 year in jail and up to $2,500 in fines.

Also keep in mind that a driver charged with speeding could incur 5-50 demerit points on their driving record, depending on how fast they were speeding. Accumulating too many points could lead to a license suspension.

Murder Charges

I also defend clients against charges as serious as murder, which could be first degree or second degree. First degree murder is the most serious level of murder in Illinois. To prove first degree murder, a prosecutor must establish beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant killed another person unlawfully and either:

• intended to kill or do great bodily harm (or knew that the act would do so);
• knew that the act created a strong probability of causing death or great bodily harm; or
• was attempting or committed a forcible felony, such as rape.

The maximum penalty for first degree murder is life imprisonment.

Mitigating circumstances could lessen a first degree charge to second degree murder. Note that it is the defendant's burden to prove either of the following mitigating circumstances for second degree murder (otherwise, they will likely face first degree murder charges):

• the defendant was acting under a sudden and intense passion due to being seriously provoked by the alleged victim or another person whom the defendant tried to kill but negligently killed the alleged victim instead; or
• the defendant believed that the killing would have been lawfully justified, but this belief was found unreasonable.

Second degree murder in Illinois is charged as a Class 1 felony punishable by 4-20 years in prison and up to $25,000 in fines (plus a surcharge of $3,125). There is also a mandatory 2-year parole period following release from prison.