"Aggravated Speeding" (Illinois)

[Call911]

Ever since the beginning of the year, Illinois has been following its newest traffic law:

625 ILCS 5/11-601.5
Aggravated Speeding (30 mph over the posted speeding limit).
The law changed in 2011 making a speeding ticket for driving 30 mph over the limit a Class B misdemeanor. This type of ticket used to be a fine-only petty offense, but not anymore.

What is your (LE and/or civilian) perspective on this? I personally love this. Street racing has been down quite a bit in our area and I have noticed a substantial drop in racing calls since it will now show up on their record. Also, for other LE, what is the law(s) regarding speeding in your state?

[MD11pilot]

They would be arresting everyone who drives on the Kennedy expressway during non rush periods but then again the only time I see LE on that highway is if there was an accident. Even then wouldn't the officer get to use his discretion whether to cite or arrest if the driver is polite and has a pretty clean if not spotless record? 85 MPH on an mostly empty, dry highway isn't that bad.

[Call911]

I can see it working for the most part here. However, on I55, MOST vehicles are moving at a pace of 70/80-mph. With that new rule, 85mph would be arrestable, but it's basically what the flow of traffic is moving at. I can see people causing fuss over that.

They would be arresting everyone who drives on the Kennedy expressway during non rush periods but then again the only time I see LE on that highway is if there was an accident. Even then wouldn't the officer get to use his discretion whether to cite or arrest if the driver is polite and has a pretty clean if not spotless record? 85 MPH on an mostly empty, dry highway isn't that bad.

Well, just throwing out there that the State Police are extremely short on officers, which dramatically decreases their effect on that law. This is working more effictively in cities and townships overall IMO though.

[DAL]

In Virginia, 80 mph, or 20 mph over the posted speed limit, is considered in reckless driving. In California, 80 mph is often the normal flow of traffic.

[WHC166]

Here in VT anything 30 mph over the speed limit and at least 60 mph is a misdemeanor...all other speeding violations are civil violations unless it rises to the level of Negligent Operation.

[Dingo990]

Most traffic violations are misdemeanors in Missouri (including speeding more than *5* over), doesn't really change how we do business. But I guess it gives judges more options.

[Street_Cop50]

In Virginia, reckless driving is class one Misdemeanor, punishable by up to 12 months in jail, up to a $2,500 fine, and a possible loss of license for up to six months.

The most common form of reckless driving is speeding 20+ over the speed limit...

46.2-862. A person shall be guilty of reckless driving who drives a motor vehicle on the highways in the Commonwealth (i) at a speed of twenty miles per hour or more in excess of the applicable maximum speed limit or (ii) in excess of eighty miles per hour regardless of the applicable maximum speed limit.

Or driving in a manner generally endangering others...

46.2-852. Reckless driving; general rule - Irrespective of the maximum speeds permitted by law, any person who drives a vehicle on any highway recklessly or at a speed or in a manner so as to endanger the life, limb, or property of any person shall be guilty of reckless driving.

[bigislander72]

Wow, never realized 30 mph over is going with the flow of traffic in some places. The state should consider raising the speed limit to say, 65 or 70.

In Ca, I and pretty much everyone else drove about 80 on the 65 mph limit freeways without fear of ticket. But thats only 15 over.

[MD11pilot]

Well, just throwing out there that the State Police are extremely short on officers,

Yeah and their strict hiring standards are not helping, at the auto show one trooper told me that you need to have either 3 years of military experience or 3-4 years of LE experience. Not that many applicants out there who fits the bill it seems.

[DAL]

I find it amusing that in Virginia, police officers routinely drive recklessly. In California, we are not allowed to drive recklessly even when rolling Code 3. Under case law, speeding alone does not constitute reckless driving in California. There is also a separate code section for driving in excess of 100 mph, which is an infraction, punishable only by a fine.

[-Erik-]

In Virginia, reckless driving is class one Misdemeanor, punishable by up to 12 months in jail, up to a $2,500 fine, and a possible loss of license for up to six months.

The most common form of reckless driving is speeding 20+ over the speed limit...

46.2-862. A person shall be guilty of reckless driving who drives a motor vehicle on the highways in the Commonwealth (i) at a speed of twenty miles per hour or more in excess of the applicable maximum speed limit or (ii) in excess of eighty miles per hour regardless of the applicable maximum speed limit.

Or driving in a manner generally endangering others...

46.2-852. Reckless driving; general rule - Irrespective of the maximum speeds permitted by law, any person who drives a vehicle on any highway recklessly or at a speed or in a manner so as to endanger the life, limb, or property of any person shall be guilty of reckless driving.

Isn't there something up with that law in regards to out of state drivers? I'm trying to remember if it is Virginia....

[PhilipCal]

Alabama does not have a specific aggravated speeding statute. However, most courts in the state consider 25mph above any posted limit as aggravated speeding. As a practical matter that means that already substantial fines/court costs are assessed in the maximum.

[reils49]

In Ca, I and pretty much everyone else drove about 80 on the 65 mph limit freeways without fear of ticket. But thats only 15 over.

same in NY.

[Mr. Green]

I think I remember hearing in traffic school that in Utah reckless driving is at 31+ over the limit, or double the limit. So 50 in a 25 or 60 in a 30 or 76 in a 45 etc....

[Justsaying]

Isn't there something up with that law in regards to out of state drivers? I'm trying to remember if it is Virginia....

There was is a part of I-95 where the fines are higher for anything, that was for only VA drivers and we pitched a fit, now that is no longer the case.