Cook County Traffic Court
Understanding Cook County Traffic Court
The Cook County Traffic Court in Chicago, IL, is a specialized court that handles traffic citations and moving violations. Understanding the purpose of this judicial division, the types of cases it hears, and how to fight a traffic ticket can be useful information if you drive a vehicle in this county. We will show you how to lookup your citations, and help you prepare for a court appearance and potentially reduce penalties.
The Role of Cook County Traffic Court
Traffic Court plays an important part in maintaining road safety. It processes moving violations, determines guilt or innocence, and assigns penalties. The traffic judicial division serves the entire county. It ensures that official rules of the road are upheld and that violators face are held accountable. Defendants can plead guilty, not-guilty, or no-contest to their citations. The court's decision can result in fines, points on your license, or even suspension of driving privileges, and in some cases jail time.
How to Search Your Cook County Traffic Ticket
There are multiple ways to run a Cook County traffic ticket search. You can either lookup your traffic citation directly from the Clerk of the Courts - Traffic Division, or you can also use a third party resources that specializes in driving records. The Clerk of the Courts offers a publicly accessible traffic ticket lookup tool. This is a quick and easy way to check for your citation online, as well as citation payment options to take care of your fines and fees. You can also choose to attend a driver safety class to remove a point from your record, if that is an option. The second option is to use a public records site that specializes in driving records. These are great resources if you want to lookup your complete driving records, including all your moving violations and points on your record.
Types of Cases Heard in Traffic Court
Traffic Court handles a wide range of criminal cases, that are primarily related to traffic violations. These include moving violations such as speeding, running a red light, or driving under the influence (DUI) are common. These offenses involve a vehicle in motion. Non-moving violations can also addressed in traffic court such as parking tickets and vehicle compliance issues. Each case is unique and is handled based on the specifics of the violation and the evidence presented. Most violations result in a criminal infraction, which is technically a criminal record. However, a DUI can lead to a misdemeanor, or a felony conviction if there was someone injured because of an accident caused by an impaired driver.
Mandatory vs. Optional Traffic Court Appearances
Traffic court appearances can be either mandatory or optional, and whether you plead guilty, not-guilty, or no-contest. This also depends on the severity of the offense. For minor offenses, such as parking tickets, you may not need to appear in court, as these are not moving violations. You can often pay the fine online or by mail. However, for serious offenses like DUI, a court appearance is mandatory. Failure to appear can result in additional penalties, fines, and jail time.
How to Fight a Traffic Ticket in Cook County
If you've received a traffic ticket in Cook County, you have the right to contest it. The first step is to plead not guilty. The next step is to build your case and provide any evidence to support your case. This could include photographs, witness statements, or expert testimony. You may want to consider hiring an attorney for more serious cases, such as reckless driving citations, or DUIs. An attorney can help you understand the laws and build a strong defense. If you are found not-guilty then you can leave the courtroom and that's the end of your traffic ticket. If you are found guilty then you will need to pay the fines and will most likely receive a point on your driving record.