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Illinois Drivers Under 21 Face Suspension for 2 Convictions in 24 Months

Illinois drivers under 21 are regulated differently than drivers over 21. To have their licenses suspended for routine moving violations, drivers over 21 must be convicted of three routine moving violations committed within any 12 month period. However, all it takes to suspend the licenses of drivers under 21 are 2 convictions for routine moving violations committed within any 24 month period.

When it receives information that a driver under 21 has been convicted of a first moving violation, the Illinois Secretary of State sends a warning letter referencing the initial conviction and warning of the possibility of the loss of driving privileges for future violations. Suspensions initiated under this two-conviction rule last a minimum of 30 days and frequently last longer.

Dispositions of court supervision differ from convictions and will not trigger license suspensions for routine moving violations. Unlike convictions, which become a permanent part of a driving record and can lead to lengthy license suspensions and even revocations, at the successful conclusion of a period of court supervision, the charges are dismissed.

In order for a driver under the age of 18 to receive court supervision for a moving violation, that driver must appear in court along with a parent or guardian. All drivers under the age of 21 are required to complete traffic safety school as a condition of court supervision for moving violations. All drivers- both over and under 21- are eligible to receive court supervision only 2 times for offenses committed in any 12 month period. Drivers under 21 can receive court supervision only once for "serious traffic violations."

Attorney Matt Hoffman is a former traffic court prosecutor with over 10 years' experience handling traffic matters in Illinois courts. He routinely defends drivers under the age of 21 who are facing moving violations or other allegations that can negatively impact their driving privileges. He also assists drivers under the age of 21 who have received notice from the Secretary of State that their driver's licenses are going to be suspended. If your license already has been suspended, Matt may be able to get your driver's license back. He offers a free consultation on every case.

Lawyer for Illinois Drivers Under 21 with Illegal Possession or Consumption of Alcohol Violations

Illinois imposes harsh penalities on people under the age of 21 who are caught illegally possessing or consuming alcohol. If you are charged with unlawful possession or consumption of alcohol under section 5/6-20 of the Illinois Liquor Control Act, you have been charged with a class A misdemeanor. Class A misdemeanors are punishable by up to 364 days in jail and up to a $2,500.00 fine.

Alternatively, if you have been charged with this offense under an ordinance of a city or town, you cannot be jailed for the violation but you still face possible fines and other penalties and the possible suspension of your driver's license.

All drivers under 21 who are found guilty of the unlawful possession or consumption of alcohol, whether they are charged under the State Code or under a local ordinance, will lose their driving privileges for a minimum of 3 months. It is not required that a vehicle was used in the commission of the offense in order for your driver's license to be suspended.

Drivers placed on court supervision for the unlawful possession or consumption of alcohol face a 3 month suspension of their driver's licenses. This means that even if you are able to obtain court supervision, and therefore avoid a conviction for this offense, your license still will be suspended.

If you do not receive court supervision but instead are convicted, you face an even longer suspension of your driver's license. For a first conviction of unlawful consumption or possession of alcohol, you driver's license will be suspended for 6 months. If you are convicted a second time, you will lose your license for 12 months. Finally, if you are convicted of this offense a third time, your driver's license will be revoked.

It is important to note that the penalties described here are the penalties that must be imposed-- if you are found guilty of the offense as charged. As a former prosecutor, attorney Matt Hoffman knows well that even if you are charged with an offense, you are presumed innocent of the allegation. Understanding the possible penalties and appreciating the significance of a potential loss of driving privileges, Matt seeks creative resolutions of these charges for his clients. In the past, Matt has helped clients under 21 charged with alcohol violations completely avoid driver's license suspensions. He has also had alcohol-related charges dismissed.

Illinois Attorney for Drivers Under 21 Facing Zero Tolerance Alcohol License Suspensions

Illinois' "zero tolerance" law means that people under 21 who are caught with any alcohol in their systems while driving face the loss of driving privileges. If you are under 21 and have been charged with any traffic offense, an alcohol test result that reveals any amount of blood alcohol content ("BAC") above 0.00 will trigger a driver's license suspension. If you have a BAC of 0.08 or greater, or if you show other signs of alcohol impairment, you can be charged with DUI.

The length of the zero tolerance suspension differs based on the circumstance. For the first offense, registering a BAC of any amount over a 0.00 will cause a 3 month suspension. Refusing or failing to complete a BAC test will cause a 6 month suspension. For the second offense, registering a BAC amount over 0.00 will cause a 1 year suspension, while refusing or failing to complete a BAC test will cause a 2 year suspension.

Lake & Cook County Illinois Lawyer Defending Under 18 Driving Curfew Violations

Under the Illinois Graduated Licensing Program, nighttime driving restrictions are in effect for drivers under the age of 18. Drivers under 18 are subject to a driving curfew and are not allowed to drive from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, and from 11 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Drivers who are convicted of violating the driving curfew will have their driver's licenses suspended by the Secretary of State.

A first conviction for violating the driving curfew will cause a 60 day license suspension. A second conviction will cause a 90 day license suspension. A third or subsequent conviction will trigger a 6 month license suspension.

Other Violations Causing the Suspension or Revocation of Under 21 Illinois Driver's Licenses

If you are under 21, there are a number of other reasons why your driver's license can be suspended, cancelled or revoked. Some of these reasons include:

Lake & Cook County Illinois Lawyer Defending Drivers Under 21 for Traffic & Alcohol Violations

Attorney Matt Hoffman has over 10 years' experience handling traffic, alcohol possession and consumption, DUI and other violations alleged against drivers under the age of 21. Matt appears routinely in the Lake County, Illinois traffic courts located in Park City, Round Lake Beach, Mundelein, and Waukegan, and in the Cook County, Illinois traffic courts located in Rolling Meadows and Skokie. As a former Lake County traffic court prosecutor, Matt is able to identify and exploit legal and factual issues that can greatly benefit the outcome of your case.

Just because you have been charged with an offense does not mean you are automatically guilty. A traffic ticket or other charge is merely an allegation. Because of this, Matt knows that until you either plead guilty or are found guilty, you are presumed innocent of the charge.

Thus, in representing you in court, Matt will explore creative solutions for resolving your case, always with an emphasis on protecting your driving record. These solutions can include seeking the dismissal of the charge, plea bargaining and negotiating for controlled results or lesser or amended charges, and even trial. Matt has over 10 years' experience as a trial lawyer.

Attorney Representing Clients Under 21 Charged in Lake County & Cook County Circuit Courts

 of Matthew T. Hoffman P.C. represents Illinois drivers under the age of 21 who have been charged with traffic and alcohol violations at the following Lake and Cook County, Illinois traffic courts:

There are many different police departments that forward traffic tickets, curfew violations, and alcohol-related charges to the six local traffic courthouses in Northeastern Illinois for disposition. These courthouses include those located at Park City, Round Lake Beach, Mundelein, Waukegan, Rolling Meadows and Skokie. If you are under 21 and have been ticketed or charged within the jurisdiction of any of these six court venues, it is likely that you were cited by one of the following police departments. The Law Office of Matthew T. Hoffman P.C. defends clients charged with traffic and other violations issued by these and other area police agencies: