Serving the Traffic Courts of Lake, Cook, and McHenry County Illinois:

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Lawyer Defending Wisconsin Drivers Ticketed for Illinois Moving Violations

If you hold a Wisconsin driver’s license and are convicted of a moving violation in Illinois, Illinois may report that conviction to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation Division of Motor Vehicles [the “DMV”]. This is true, even though Wisconsin is neither a member of the Driver’s License Compact nor a member the Non-Resident Violator Compact.

States, like Illinois, that are members of these compacts share information on traffic tickets issued to non-resident drivers. While Wisconsin is not a member of these interstate compacts, the Wisconsin DMV still does receive information on out-of-state traffic convictions reported to it by Illinois.

Wisconsin is on a point system. Under this system, demerit points are assessed to drivers convicted of a moving violation. Inside Wisconsin, courts notify the Wisconsin DMV of convictions for moving traffic violations. When a Wisconsin driver accumulates 12 or more demerit points in one year, based on the dates of the violations, that driver’s license is suspended for a minimum of two months.

According to the Wisconsin DMV, convictions remain on driver records for five years from the date of conviction, while alcohol-related and certain commercial violations remain on the record for 10 years to life.

When the Wisconsin DMV receives information of an out-of-state conviction reported by Illinois, no points are assessed for the conviction, but the conviction is entered on the Wisconsin driver record.

Wisconsin will take action, however, on any out-of-state conviction reported by Illinois for which Wisconsin law would require a mandatory suspension or revocation of a driver’s license. Wisconsin also will take action on any out-of-state convictions reported by Illinois that would require disqualification of commercial driving privileges.

With his law office located in Lake County, Illinois, the northeasternmost county in the State, Attorney Matt Hoffman frequently represents Wisconsin drivers ticketed for moving violations in Lake, Cook and McHenry County, and throughout the greater Chicago area.

Matt represents Wisconsin drivers from Kenosha, Racine, Walworth, Waukesha and Milwaukee counties, as well as Wisconsin drivers located throughout the entire Badger State.

Illinois Court Supervision Does not Count as a Conviction Against a Wisconsin Driver

Unlike Wisconsin, Illinois allows for dispositions of “court supervision” for many different types of moving traffic violations. A disposition of court supervision for a traffic violation is a sentence where the driver is placed under the “supervision” of the court for a certain number of months. Typically, a person placed on court supervision is required to pay money into the court system and in some cases also may be required to complete a traffic safety school course. Often, this course may be completed online.

If the individual fulfills the requirements of court supervision, at the conclusion of the court supervision period, the original charge is dismissed without any conviction ever being entered against the driver. Another name for court supervision is a “deferred judgment.” When court supervision is granted, a judgment of conviction is deferred until the conclusion of the supervision period and then never is imposed if supervision is satisfactorily completed. In such a case, at the end of the supervision period, the charge is actually dismissed.

As a result, a Wisconsin driver who is placed on court supervision for an Illinois moving violation will not see a report of a conviction sent to Wisconsin by Illinois.

Illinois Lawyer May be Able to Resolve Illinois Traffic Charge without Wisconsin Driver Appearing in Court

Due to travel times and travel distance, a Wisconsin resident may not wish to physically appear in an Illinois court to resolve a traffic charge. Attorney Matt Hoffman frequently handles this type of situation, and may be able to appear in Lake, Cook or McHenry County traffic court on your behalf and in your absence in order to resolve your traffic ticket.

Illinois Court Supervision Still Counts as a Conviction for Wisconsin CDL Holders

Under the Illinois Uniform Commercial Driver’s License Act, court supervision is treated the same as a conviction for the purpose of commercial driver's license holders. This means that the benefit or court supervision that applies to non-CDL holders, namely, that it allows non-CDL holders to avoid a conviction for the offense, does not apply to CDL holders. This is because Illinois law specifically states that a guilty plea, or the payment of a fine or costs, “regardless of whether the imposition of a sentence is deferred and ultimately a judgment dismissing the underlying charge is entered”— all typical components of court supervision— still counts as a conviction under the Illinois Commercial Driver’s license laws.

Moreover, if a Wisconsin CDL holder is “convicted” of an Illinois moving violation, other than a parking violation, the Office of the Illinois Secretary of State is required to notify Wisconsin of that result. Again, the term “conviction,” for purposes of CDL holders, applies to both actual judgments of conviction and dispositions of court supervision for moving violations.

Attorney Matt Hoffman defends Wisconsin CDL holders who have been ticketed for traffic violations in Illinois. He understands the importance to CDL holders of avoiding convictions for moving violations and of preventing convictions from accumulating on their commercial driving records. He has years of experience defending CDL charges issued by the Illinois State Police and other police agencies, and tickets alleging violations that occurred on the Interstate and on the roads and highways throughout Northeastern Illinois. If you are a commercial driver located a great distance from the courthouse that has jurisdiction over your case, Matt may be able to appear in court in your absence and resolve your charges.

Lake, Cook & McHenry County Illinois Lawyer Defending Wisconsin Drivers Against all Illinois Moving Violations

Attorney Matt Hoffman has over 12 years' experience handling Illinois traffic violations. Matt appears routinely in the Lake County, Illinois traffic courts located in Park City, Round Lake Beach, Mundelein and Waukegan, in the Cook County, Illinois traffic courts located in Rolling Meadows and Skokie, and in the McHenry County, Illinois traffic courts located in Woodstock and McHenry. 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 a traffic violation does not mean you are automatically guilty. A traffic ticket 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 ticket, plea bargaining and negotiating for controlled results or lesser or amended charges, and even trial. Matt has over 12 years' experience as a trial lawyer.

Attorney Representing Wisconsin Drivers Ticketed for Moving Violations in Lake, Cook & McHenry County Illinois

The Law Office of Matthew T. Hoffman P.C. represents clients charged with traffic tickets and moving violations in the Lake, Cook and McHenry County, Illinois traffic courts.

 

There are many different police departments that forward speeding tickets to the eight local traffic courthouses in Northeastern Illinois for disposition. These courthouses include those located at Park City, Round Lake Beach, Mundelein, Waukegan, Rolling Meadows, Skokie, Woodstock and McHenry. If you were ticketed for a moving violation within the jurisdiction of any of these eight 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 violations issued by these and other area police agencies: