Illinois moving violation - what's the best option?

Question

I know someone who was cited for a moving violation because he rear-ended a car and then a car rear-ended him and then another car rear-ended that car on the highway. If he pleads guilty, how long will it stay on his record in Illinois? Is it better to go to court? Or do traffic school?

Answer 1

If you go to court you spin the wheel of whether or not the complaining witness will be there and if so testify against him/her.  Depending on the county - fines can go up dramatically if you plead in court vs take traffic school or pay it.

Traffic convictions stay on his record forever but  it only counts for the last year unless he is under 21 - he has a graduated license which is two years - two convictions for suspension.

There are a lot of variables here.

Answer 2

The alligator guy is right. Lots of variables.

When he says it stays on the record that means the driving record, not a criminal record, like a rap sheet.

Taking school, if offered, is normally the best option since there is no conviction, pending finishing the school. Doesn't count towards a suspension or insurance hassles.

Now if this happened in Chicago and his insurance, or he, has paid the car he rear ended then the victim was advised by the police not to bother showing up at court and the ticket would get thrown out, since the victim is the witness and not the officer. Unless it is a summer replacement judge from a small county who is a hard butt the regular judges and prosecutors are just to busy to bother with a case like this. In Cook County (the Chicago part) there is normally no extra penalty for going to court.