More Than 105 Combined Years Of Experience At Your Side In Illinois

Accused of Fleeing, Eluding or Reckless Driving? Our Wheaton Attorneys can Help.

​Under Illinois law, a person commits reckless driving if they drive any vehicle with a willful or wanton disregard for the safety of others or property, or knowingly drive a vehicle and use an incline to cause the vehicle to become airborne. Anyone who has ignored a visual or audible signal by a peace officer directing them to stop (and instead responds by failing to stop, increasing speed, eluding the officer by turning off headlights, or taking other actions disobeying orders) is guilty of fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer, which is a Class A misdemeanor.

If you have been accused of reckless driving or fleeing/eluding an officer, our attorneys can help you. Beck & Houlihan, P.C., has over 30 years of experience fighting criminal and traffic charges on behalf of clients, and we are prepared to fight your violation.

​Reckless Driving

Every person convicted of reckless driving is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor unless the driving resulted in a particularly severe consequence, in which case it is a felony. This may include:

  • Reckless driving that causes bodily harm and (aggravated) reckless driving, if it causes bodily harm, permanent disability or disfigurement to a child or a school crossing guard while they are performing their duties (Class 4 felony/Class 3 felony)
  • Aggravated reckless driving, if it results in any bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement to anyone (Class 4 felony)

​The penalty for reckless driving can be up to one year in jail and a fine of $2,500 unless it is aggravated reckless driving, which carries up to three years in prison and a fine of $25,000.

Fleeing or Attempting to Elude an Officer

Any driver who has been given a visual or audible signal by a peace officer directing them to stop, who instead disobeys this direction by increases speeding, extinguishing their car lights, or otherwise fleeing or attempting to elude the officer is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. Those convicted of fleeing or attempting to elude an officer will have their license suspended for up to six months for a first conviction, and 12 months for a second conviction. A third conviction is treated as a Class 4 felony, which, like aggravated reckless driving, carries up to three years in prison and a fine of $25,000.Specifically, the signal coming from the officer can/must be by:

  • Hand
  • Voice
  • Siren
  • Red light
  • Blue light to qualify, but the light must be illuminated, oscillating, rotating or flashing when used in conjunction with an audible horn or siren

​Being charged with fleeing or eluding an officer can pose complex problems because it often comes down to the police officer’s word versus yours. It is entirely possible for someone to not realize that an officer is trying to pull them over, potentially leading to a conviction of fleeing or eluding.

Contact Our Wheaton Criminal and Traffic Defense Firm for Help

Beck & Houlihan, P.C., can help you fight any traffic violation you are currently facing. We represent clients throughout DuPage, Cook, Kane and Will counties. Contact our law firm at 630-398-3185 to schedule an appointment.