It’s safe to say that most Illinois motorists hate to receive a speeding ticket. However, local and state law enforcement agencies frequently plan new ticketing campaigns that aim to further crack down on speeding and other traffic violations. On July 24, 2019, the Illinois Speed Awareness Day campaign was launched by the Illinois State Police with the stated goal of increasing awareness about the dangers of excessive speed and the importance of safe driving.
While the campaign included positive approaches to driver education, it also involved the distribution of a large number of speeding tickets and warnings. There were nine presentations in different areas of the state by law enforcement personnel discussing speed limits and the potential risks associated with exceeding them. During the 24-hour period, there were 876 speeding tickets given out by state police as well as 681 written warnings for speed-related issues. These were not the only traffic tickets issued during the focus day; state police also gave out 391 tickets and 848 written warnings for other issues.
Police officials praised the results of the day, saying that they helped to make the roads safer and prevent injuries caused by traffic accidents. Authorities claim that there are four major risks to roadway safety in Illinois: speeding, not wearing a seatbelt, distracted operation and drunk driving. However, some drivers challenge the effectiveness in issuing lots of tickets. They say tickets are often used to drive revenue and may be distributed in unfair or unclear circumstances.
Someone who is given a traffic ticket by police may be concerned about piling up points or paying higher rates for car insurance. A lawyer can help a ticketed driver challenge unfair allegations in court.