Legal Question in Criminal Law in Illinois

Re: penalty for contempt of court

It depends as to the nature of the traffic charges. If they are "petty offenses" such as speeding, or "failure to obey a traffic control device", then you will be adjudged guilty of those charges and your operating privledges will be suspended in Illinois, until the matter(s) are cleared up. If, the offenses can result in jail time, such as DUI, then the above applies, but, in addition, a warrant will be issued for your arrest. Community service may apply in certain situations.

Re: penalty for contempt of court

It is difficult to advise you concerning the range of punishment you are facing without knowing exactly what the charges are and what court(s) you failed to appear in. However, I can tell you generally that you should hire an attorney. An attorney should be able to have any outstanding warrants cancelled and then possibly negotiate favorable plea bargains on your behalf. The entire process will be a little more expensive for you due to your failure to appear in court originally, but it will certainly be worth the cost to have these matters taken care of and not hanging over your head. If you are not already represented by legal counsel, I have been licensed in Illinois for over twenty years and I have handled a wide variety of legal matters throughout the state. You may call me for a free telphone consultation at 314-727-2822 (St. Louis).