Trucking weight restrictions were established throughout the United States in order to preserve our roads and promote safety. Trucks and vehicles that are carrying excess amounts of weight can damage streets and highways, creating safety hazards for other motorists. In the state of Illinois, if a police officer has reason to believe that a truck is overweight, he or she can require the driver to stop the vehicle and submit to a weighing. If it is determined that your vehicle is in violation, serious financial penalties may result. If you are a CDL holder who has been cited for a weight restriction, Attorney Patricia Magaña is prepared to help. Fluent in English and Spanish, Attorney Magaña has more than 15 years of experience helping commercial drivers contest violations.

Financial Penalties for Trucking Weight Violations

In Illinois, a commercial truck driver may face weight restriction violations if:

• The gross weight of the truck exceeds the maximum specified amount
• There is too much weight on the axles

According to 625 ILCS 5/15-113, the driver of an overweight truck shall be fined based on the following schedule. If the truck is overweight by:

In Illinois, commercial drivers are held to a higher standard than most motorists. Similarly, commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders are also subject to more severe penalties when charged with a traffic violation, or when accused of driving under the influence. These penalties are notoriously harsh, so if you were recently arrested for driving under the influence in Illinois, it is important to speak with an Aurora CDL violations defense lawyer about your legal options as soon as possible.

Suspension of CDL Privileges

DUI cases in Illinois can be broken down into two separate phases: the Statutory Summary Suspension of a person’s license and the criminal proceedings for driving under the influence. Either one of these stages of a DUI case can impact a person’s CDL driving privileges. For instance, the Secretary of State imposes a minimum one-year disqualification of all CDL driving privileges if a driver submits to and fails a BAC test, or refuses testing altogether. The same penalty can be imposed on those who are actually found guilty of, or who plead guilty to, a criminal DUI charge, regardless of whether the judge convicted the defendant or ordered court supervision.

This is because an order of court supervision, which prevents license consequences for those with regular driving privileges, still results in a one-year disqualification for CDL holders. In fact, if a person receives a second DUI that results in a Statutory Summary Suspension or a finding of guilt, he or she will be disqualified from holding a CDL for life.