McMahon Law Offices
Cited for speeding, reckless driving, or driving on a suspended license in DuPage County? A former prosecutor and retired judge know exactly how traffic courts build their cases and where citations fall apart. Call for a free case review.
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"Most people just pay the ticket. That's a conviction on your record, points on your license, and higher insurance rates for years. A citation is not a conviction. There are almost always ways to fight it."
— Mike McMahon, Former DuPage County ProsecutorTraffic Violation Defense Overview
A traffic violation conviction in DuPage County can mean fines up to $2,500, points on your driving record, automatic license suspension, and insurance rate increases that follow you for three to five years. For commercial drivers, a single conviction can end a career.
Most clients we defend are not reckless drivers. They are commuters caught in speed traps during rush hour, drivers cited for technical violations they did not fully understand, or people ticketed by officers who made procedural mistakes in documentation. Responsible people facing consequences that threaten their livelihood and their family's transportation needs.
Mike McMahon prosecuted traffic cases for the state. He knows what radar calibration records must show, how officer testimony can be challenged, and where citations fall apart on procedural grounds. Judge Pierce presided over traffic court for years and knows what technical defenses succeed and what arguments move prosecutors toward better outcomes.
We fight to get traffic charges dismissed, reduced to non-moving violations, or resolved through supervision. We challenge equipment records, officer procedures, citation errors, and constitutional violations in every case.
Illinois Traffic Violations
| Violation | Classification | |
|---|---|---|
Reckless Driving Operating a vehicle with willful disregard for the safety of persons or property. Carries mandatory license suspension and up to 364 days in jail. 625 ILCS 5/11-503 |
Class A Misdemeanor | |
Driving on Suspended License Operating a vehicle while your license is suspended or revoked. Additional suspension time, fines, and potential vehicle impoundment. 625 ILCS 5/6-303 |
Class A Misdemeanor to Class 4 Felony | |
Speeding (26+ mph Over Limit) Driving significantly over the posted speed limit. 50 points on license, fines over $1,000, and automatic suspension at certain thresholds. 625 ILCS 5/11-601 |
Petty Offense to Class B Misdemeanor | |
No Valid Insurance Operating a vehicle without required liability insurance coverage. License suspension, fines over $1,000, and mandatory SR-22 filing for reinstatement. 625 ILCS 5/3-707 |
Class A Misdemeanor | |
No Valid Driver's License Operating a vehicle without a valid Illinois driver's license. Fines up to $1,500, vehicle impoundment, and potential immigration consequences for non-citizens. 625 ILCS 5/6-101 |
Class A Misdemeanor | |
Improper Lane Usage Failing to stay within a single marked lane or improper lane changes. 20 points on license, $164 fine, often charged alongside accident-related violations. 625 ILCS 5/11-709 |
Petty Offense | |
Failure to Yield Right of Way Failing to yield to pedestrians, emergency vehicles, or oncoming traffic. 20 points, $164 fine, and serious consequences when charged with an injury accident. 625 ILCS 5/11-702 |
Petty Offense | |
CDL Moving Violations Traffic violations for commercial driver's license holders. Enhanced penalties, potential CDL disqualification, and mandatory employer notification requirements. 625 ILCS 5/6-514 |
Petty Offense to Class A Misdemeanor | |
School Zone Speeding Speeding in a designated school zone when children are present. Doubled fines and points, potential upgrade to reckless driving. 625 ILCS 5/11-605 |
Petty Offense (Enhanced) | |
Construction Zone Speeding Speeding in an active construction zone when workers are present. Doubled fines, enhanced penalties for repeat violations. 625 ILCS 5/11-605.1 |
Petty Offense (Enhanced) | |
Red Light Violation Running a red light at a standard intersection or camera-enforced location. Standard violations carry 20 points and $164 fine. Camera violations carry $100 fine with no points. 625 ILCS 5/11-306 |
Petty Offense | |
Stop Sign Violation Failing to come to a complete stop at a posted stop sign. 20 points, $164 fine, often upgraded to reckless driving if an accident occurs. 625 ILCS 5/11-1204 |
Petty Offense | |
Following Too Closely Tailgating or failing to maintain a safe following distance. 20 points, $164 fine, commonly issued alongside rear-end collision charges. 625 ILCS 5/11-710 |
Petty Offense | |
Expired Registration Operating a vehicle with expired Illinois registration. $164 fine, potential vehicle impoundment if expired more than four months. 625 ILCS 5/3-413 |
Petty Offense |
Traffic Violation Case Results
Every result below is a real traffic violation case handled in DuPage County.
Why McMahon Law Offices
Former prosecutors who built traffic cases now use that knowledge to tear them apart.
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5-Star ReviewsMike McMahon built traffic cases for the state. He knows what radar calibration records must show, what officer certification requirements must be met, and where citations fall apart on procedural and technical grounds.
Radar and lidar devices require regular calibration and certified operators. We obtain equipment maintenance logs, calibration records, and officer certification documentation to challenge the reliability of every speed reading used against you.
Missing required information, incorrect statute citations, and errors in ticket completion can get charges dismissed before you ever set foot in a courtroom. We scrutinize every line of your citation for procedural defects the state cannot fix.
Judge Pierce decided thousands of traffic cases from the bench. He knows what arguments succeed with every judge in Wheaton, what prosecutors negotiate on, and how to position cases for the best possible outcome in DuPage County traffic court.
A single moving violation can disqualify a commercial driver from operating. We understand the federal and state CDL regulations that apply to your license and pursue outcomes — supervision, non-moving violations, or dismissal — that protect your commercial driving privileges and your career.
Points accumulate fast. Insurance rates follow. We pursue non-moving violations, supervision, and dismissals specifically designed to keep points off your license, preserve your insurance rates, and protect your ability to drive for work and family.
How To Get Started
A simple, straightforward process from your first call to your court date.
Call us or fill out our contact form as soon as you receive your citation. Court deadlines approach fast, equipment records get overwritten, and options like supervision have time limits. Early contact gives us the most to work with.
Tell us what happened, how you were stopped, what the officer said, and what you were cited for. Traffic cases turn on specifics — road conditions, signage, equipment used, and exactly what the officer observed and documented.
We obtain radar calibration records, review the citation for errors, visit the scene to document road conditions and signage, secure traffic camera footage, and file motions to challenge improperly gathered evidence.
Dismissal, non-moving violation reduction, or court supervision. We appear in court for you so you do not miss work, and we pursue the strongest outcome your case allows while protecting your driving record and insurance rates.
Your Traffic Defense Team
A former prosecutor who built traffic cases and a retired judge who decided thousands of them.
Areas We Serve
We defend traffic violations throughout DuPage County and neighboring Illinois counties.
2150 McDonald Dr Suite 1608
Oak Brook, IL 60523
Available for in-person case reviews upon request. We defend traffic violations in all of DuPage County, including citations issued on I-88, I-355, I-294, Route 83, and all neighboring counties throughout Illinois.
Paying a traffic ticket is a conviction. It puts points on your driving record, can trigger an automatic license suspension if you accumulate too many, and will increase your insurance rates for three to five years. For CDL holders, a single paid ticket can mean disqualification. Before paying anything, call us for a free case review. Many citations have weaknesses that result in dismissal or reduction to a non-moving violation — and a non-moving violation carries no points and no insurance impact.
Yes. Traffic citations are dismissed regularly when radar equipment was not properly calibrated, when the officer's certification for the device had lapsed, when the citation contains errors in required information, when the posted speed limit was not properly marked, or when the stop itself was unlawful. Equipment challenges alone have gotten reckless driving charges thrown out. Every citation has potential weaknesses. Our job is to find them.
A moving violation occurs while the vehicle is in motion — speeding, improper lane usage, failure to yield, and reckless driving are all moving violations. Moving violations add points to your driving record and can trigger license suspension when they accumulate. A non-moving violation — expired registration, equipment violations, and similar infractions — typically carries only a fine with no points. Reducing a moving violation to a non-moving violation is one of the most important outcomes we pursue, because it protects your record and prevents insurance increases.
In Illinois, the Secretary of State uses a point system to determine when licenses are suspended. For drivers under 21, three moving violations in 24 months triggers suspension. For adult drivers, accumulating 15 points within 12 months results in a two-month suspension. 45 points in 12 months results in a three-month suspension. 90 points results in revocation. Common violations carry 20 points each — meaning three tickets in a year can cost you your license. We pursue reductions and dismissals specifically to keep your point total below suspension thresholds.
CDL holders face significantly harsher consequences than regular drivers for the same violations. A first serious traffic violation in a commercial vehicle carries a 60-day CDL disqualification. Two serious violations in three years means a 120-day disqualification. Certain violations — railroad crossing violations, leaving the scene of an accident — result in one-year disqualification on the first offense. Court supervision is not available to CDL holders for violations committed in a commercial vehicle. We understand the federal and state rules that apply to your license and pursue outcomes — dismissal, reduction, or fighting at trial — that protect your CDL and your livelihood.
Court supervision is a disposition where the judge delays entering a conviction while you complete certain requirements — staying violation-free for a period, sometimes paying a fine or completing traffic school. If you successfully complete supervision, no conviction is entered and no points are added to your driving record. Illinois law generally allows one supervision for a moving violation every 12 months. Supervision is not reported to the Secretary of State as a conviction, which is why it is often the best alternative to dismissal for eligible violations.
Yes. Driving on a suspended or revoked license in Illinois is a Class A misdemeanor — the same level as domestic battery. It carries up to 364 days in jail, fines up to $2,500, and additional suspension time added to whatever suspension you were already serving. If your license was suspended for DUI and you are caught driving, it is a mandatory minimum 10 days in jail or 30 days of community service. Many suspension cases involve administrative errors or situations where the driver did not receive proper notice of the suspension. We investigate every case for those defenses and work to get charges dismissed or reduced.
Most standard traffic violations in DuPage County resolve within 30 to 90 days. Reckless driving and driving on suspended license cases — which are criminal misdemeanors — typically take 2 to 6 months. Cases that go to trial or require technical expert testimony on radar equipment take longer. We handle all court appearances for you so you do not miss work, and we give you a realistic timeline at your free consultation based on the specific charge and the court where your case is filed.
Resources
Guides written to help you understand your citations, driving record consequences, and options in DuPage County traffic court.
Get Started
Submit a contact form or call us to schedule your free traffic case review. Court deadlines approach fast and equipment records get overwritten. The sooner we act, the more options we have to protect your driving record.
Your information is confidential and protected by attorney-client privilege. We will never share your information.
