Speeding Becomes a High-Ticket Item as Fines Rise

The Illinois Supreme Court has signed off on a new measure which will raise the fines for traffic tickets by as much as 60%. The new fines, which take effect on September 15th, will only pertain to situations in which drivers opt to use a mail-in bond method of dealing with their tickets. In those situations, drivers plead guilty and pay the ticketing officer, or main their payment into a court, which will serve as a bond and then eventually serve as the fine. Going to court is avoided this way, which saves the government money. In DuPage County, one judge estimated that the new laws could bring in “a couple million dollars or so” for the county. The new changes come after a law was enacted by Governor Quinn, in July, which took $15 out of each ticket and channeled it to the State Police – in an effort to avoid having to lay off police officers.