Commuters who regularly use the Interstate Highway System can shorten their travel time just a bit in the coming New Year. Starting on January 1st, the speed limit outside of urban areas will be increased from 65 to 70 miles per hour (MPH), putting it in concert with neighbors Indiana, Missouri, Iowa, and parts of Kentucky. Cook County and its surrounding five counties have been allowed to keep their 55 miles per hour speed limits, as well as Madison and St. Clair Counties, which contain the eastern part of the greater St. Louis area.
While the speed limit has increased, many motorists will inevitably continue to flout the law, some in egregious amounts. The State of Illinois has also changed the law to provide stiffer penalties for those who travel 26 miles per hour over the speed limit, as well as for those who travel 35 MPH over.
26 MPH Over: Class B Misdemeanor
Under the Illinois Vehicle Code previously, one could violate the speed limit by up to 31 miles per hour and simply receive a traffic citation. The Illinois General Assembly has passed a law amending the Illinois Vehicle Code to punish speeders caught traveling at between 26 and 35 miles per hour over the speed limit with a Class B misdemeanor. This could earn the speedster a jail term of up to six months, a fine of up to $1500, or both.
35 MPH Over: Class A Misdemeanor
If between 26 and 35 miles per hour over the speed limit is not enough, there are those who will exceed the speed limit further. And they, too, will be subject to a stiffer penalty. Where once an individual could drive up to 40 miles per hour over the limit, now if a driver exceeds the speed limit by 35 MPH or more, he or she is subject to a Class A misdemeanor, fetching a jail term not to exceed a year, a fine of $2,500, or both.
Reckless Driving: A Possibility
While the two misdemeanor speeding charges have changed, the crime of reckless driving in Illinois has not. If someone drives with willful and wanton disregard for the safety of persons and property, they could be charged with reckless driving. Excessive speeding could be evidence of reckless driving. Reckless driving is a Class A misdemeanor, meaning that an excessive speeder could find themselves charged with two different crimes.
Contact an Illinois Criminal Attorney
An experienced Chicago defense attorney can attack the stop, the arrest, and the evidence to get you the best possible outcome if you have been charged with a traffic crime. If you have been arrested, charged, or ticketed, contact The Law Offices of Thomas Glasgow, Ltd. at 847.577.8700 for a free consultation.