What Penalties Do I Face If I’m Ticketed For Aggravated Speeding In Illinois?

Short answer: it depends on how far over the limit you were going — aggravated speeding in Illinois is a criminal misdemeanor, not just a traffic ticket, and the penalties step up sharply at two thresholds.

26–34 mph over the limit — Class B Misdemeanor

• Up to 6 months in jail

• Fine up to $1,500, plus court costs

• Criminal conviction on your record (unless reduced or you get court supervision)

35+ mph over the limit — Class A Misdemeanor

• Up to 12 months in jail

• Fine up to $2,500, plus court costs

• This is the same classification level as reckless driving

A few things worth knowing:

• It’s criminal, not civil. Under 625 ILCS 5/11-601.5, anything 26 mph or more over the posted limit is charged as a misdemeanor, meaning it goes on your criminal record if you’re convicted — not just your driving record.

• Jail time is rare in practice, especially for a first offense, but it is legally on the table, and judges do have discretion to impose it.

• Court supervision is often the goal. If you haven’t previously received court supervision for aggravated speeding, you may be eligible for it here. Supervision isn’t a conviction on your criminal record, though most states’ DMVs (and Illinois itself, for license purposes) still treat it similarly to a conviction for points/insurance purposes.

• License and insurance impact. A conviction counts as a moving violation toward license suspension, and insurers typically raise rates substantially after a misdemeanor speeding conviction.• Reduction is often possible. A common defense strategy is negotiating the charge down — for example, getting the speed reduced under 26 mph over so it’s no longer a criminal offense, or securing court supervision instead of a conviction. Whether that’s realistic depends on your driving record, the specific speed alleged, and local prosecutorial practice.Given that this carries real criminal exposure (not just a fine), it’s worth talking to a traffic/criminal defense attorney before your court date rather than paying the ticket outright — paying it is treated as a guilty plea.

Given that this carries real criminal exposure (not just a fine), it’s worth talking to a traffic/criminal defense attorney before your court date rather than paying the ticket outright — paying it is treated as a guilty plea.