What is the name of your state? Illinois
Actually, I live in Indiana, but I was traveling through Chicago in May on business.
Anyway, it was the middle of noon rush-hour, and I was southbound on I-294. Anyone who has seen the construction on this road, and the traffic around noontime, knows that it's darn near impossible to exceed the speed limit, no matter how much you might want to.
On this particular day, I was simply following the flow of traffic and was in fact being passed on BOTH SIDES by 18-wheel trucks. At no attempt did I try to pass anyone else. Had I driven any slower, I would have created a hazard for other drivers.
Somehow, an Illinois state trooper was able to pull me over (probably because I was the only one going SLOW enough that he was able to get behind me) and claimed that I was traveling 76 in a 55. I do not believe this for a moment, nor do I believe that the trooper could have clocked me on radar with any level of confidence that I was the driver in question. There was simply way too much traffic.
But here's the interesting part: The ticket clearly states that if I am to plead Not Guilty, I must mail the form "at least ten work days before the date set for your court appearance noted on the bottom half of the front side of this ticket." This is confirmed elsewhere on the ticket, where it says, "In the event you fail to appear in court or answer the charge on the date set for your court appearance... you thereby consent to the entry of a judgment of conviction." Everything on this ticket regarding my required actions is tied to that court date. However... (wait for it...) there IS NO COURT DATE on the ticket! That section was left entirely blank. So it would appear that I have no legally binding deadline to submit a plea, correct?
Nonetheless, I just received a postcard from the Cook County Ciruit Court which says I must respond within five days or face "judgement of conviction or suspension." I don't intend to plead guilty, and even if I did, I cannot pay the $95 fine within the next five days. But I also have no desire to drive all the way back to Chicago for a trial.
How can they claim that I have a legal obligation to respond to this citation within a certain timeframe if no court date was ever set, and nothing else on the ticket indicates a time limit?
Thanks!
Actually, I live in Indiana, but I was traveling through Chicago in May on business.
Anyway, it was the middle of noon rush-hour, and I was southbound on I-294. Anyone who has seen the construction on this road, and the traffic around noontime, knows that it's darn near impossible to exceed the speed limit, no matter how much you might want to.
On this particular day, I was simply following the flow of traffic and was in fact being passed on BOTH SIDES by 18-wheel trucks. At no attempt did I try to pass anyone else. Had I driven any slower, I would have created a hazard for other drivers.
Somehow, an Illinois state trooper was able to pull me over (probably because I was the only one going SLOW enough that he was able to get behind me) and claimed that I was traveling 76 in a 55. I do not believe this for a moment, nor do I believe that the trooper could have clocked me on radar with any level of confidence that I was the driver in question. There was simply way too much traffic.
But here's the interesting part: The ticket clearly states that if I am to plead Not Guilty, I must mail the form "at least ten work days before the date set for your court appearance noted on the bottom half of the front side of this ticket." This is confirmed elsewhere on the ticket, where it says, "In the event you fail to appear in court or answer the charge on the date set for your court appearance... you thereby consent to the entry of a judgment of conviction." Everything on this ticket regarding my required actions is tied to that court date. However... (wait for it...) there IS NO COURT DATE on the ticket! That section was left entirely blank. So it would appear that I have no legally binding deadline to submit a plea, correct?
Nonetheless, I just received a postcard from the Cook County Ciruit Court which says I must respond within five days or face "judgement of conviction or suspension." I don't intend to plead guilty, and even if I did, I cannot pay the $95 fine within the next five days. But I also have no desire to drive all the way back to Chicago for a trial.
How can they claim that I have a legal obligation to respond to this citation within a certain timeframe if no court date was ever set, and nothing else on the ticket indicates a time limit?
Thanks!
