Following Too Closely

Last updated on April 30, 2021

 

In Illinois, you are required to follow the vehicle ahead of you in a “reasonable and prudent manner” with due regard to traffic conditions and speed (625 ILCS 5/11-704). Most tickets for following too closely occur as the result of an accident, but it can also result from a law enforcement officer’s judgment that a driver is “tailgating” another vehicle. Unlike many other types of traffic citations, tickets for following too closely are almost exclusively proven by the State or Municipality by eyewitness testimony alone. That is why you will want to take note of as many details as possible should you receive this kind of ticket.

A ticket for following too closely is considered a petty offense, and is punishable by a fine, court costs, and upon a conviction, 25 points against your driver’s license. At Driver Defense Team, we represent drivers charged with this offense in courtrooms throughout Northern Illinois every day and we welcome the opportunity to use our knowledge and experience in assisting you in dealing with this charge.