speed limit

Speed limit on interstate to increase to 70 mph in Illinois

April 24, 2013
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Illinois may soon see the speed limit increase to 70 mph. The State Senate passed a bill yesterday that would increase the speed limit to 70 mph on interstate highways. The measure was passed on a 41-6 vote. The current top speed on the interstate is 65 mph in rural areas, and 55 mph in [...]

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Chicago speed cameras not legal per Attorney General: no children present

September 11, 2012
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While the City of Chicago was busy moving forward with plans for speed cameras in Chicago’s school zones, apparently it overlooked an opinion from the Attorney General that says the program is not legal. Plans for a multi-million dollar traffic camera system were developed to increase child safety, or generate additional revenue for the city, [...]

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The rule of strict liability in traffic court

June 24, 2012
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One of the most important rules in criminal cases is that court cannot convict a person of a crime unless the prosecution has proven that the defendant had the requisite mental state. The prosecution must prove that the defendant intended to commit a crime. The Illinois constitution prohibits the prosecution from convicting a person of [...]

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Speeding 40 mph over the limit in Illinois: Class A misdemeanor

May 31, 2012
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The state of Illinois has some of the toughest traffic laws in the country. A person who drives 40 miles per hour over the posted speed limit can be arrested, charged with a crime, and even put in jail. 625 ILCS 5/11-601.5(b). Speeding 40 mph over the limit, years ago, was called aggravated speeding. If [...]

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Speeding 31 mph over the limit now a misdemeanor in Illinois

May 2, 2012
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The state legislature added an important statute to the vehicle code in 2011. In response to a Chicago Tribune article that exposed how Cook County traffic court judges were going easy on speeders, Springfield lawmakers made it a crime to speed in excess of 30 mph over the limit. The problem with the new law [...]

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Failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident: an issue of fault

February 7, 2012
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In the seconds after a traffic accident, most people’s thoughts are to check that no one is injured. There is something altruistic in human nature that causes us to look out for the safety of others in a crisis. But as long as no one is hurt, that altruistic feeling passes quickly. The next thought [...]

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