Plainfield DUI Lawyer: Why Your Citation Goes to Joliet

What the village's court pages say

The Village of Plainfield runs a Branch Court at the Plainfield Law Enforcement Center. Its page says the Branch Court hears citations that are village ordinance violations, such as many traffic offenses, and that those cases are not punishable by jail. It also says defendants over 18 who hold a citation marked "No Court Appearance Required" may enter a plea by mail.

A DUI is not on that list. A separate village page for aggravated traffic court says aggravated matters are prosecuted at the Will County Courthouse at 100 W Jefferson St in Joliet, are punishable by jail, and require a mandatory court appearance. It names driving under the influence, driving while license suspended or revoked, reckless driving and street racing as examples.

Your citation, line by line

The lower left corner of the front of a Plainfield traffic citation carries an arraignment date. For aggravated matters, the village says those dates fall on the first, second, third or fourth Thursday of a month, at 9:00 am, in Courtroom 201 of the Will County Courthouse, unless the date is a court holiday. The date can differ on the citation if a holiday applies.

If your paper lists a Branch Court date and also a DUI charge, call before either date. Mixed paperwork happens when an officer writes several tickets after one stop. Jeff sorts them by court so each one is addressed at the right place.

Who made the stop

The Plainfield Police Department makes most stops within the village. The village's police page places both court pages under a Legal Division. The criminal DUI charge, though, is a state charge under the Illinois Vehicle Code. The two sets of rules are why the court named on each ticket matters more than the town named on it.

Start with the after a DUI arrest page and the first offense DUI guide. If the ticket also mentions a suspended or revoked license, read the driving while revoked page. The court supervision page and summary suspension guide finish the set.

If the paper says felony

The village's page adds that felony complaints are prosecuted by the Will County State's Attorney's Office and are not subject to the Thursday schedule. Status on those cases comes from the Will County Circuit Court Clerk's office, which the village lists at (815) 727-8592. A DUI charge becomes a felony only on specific facts, such as a third offense or a crash with serious injury. The felony DUI page explains which facts do that.

Before the Thursday date

The village says an aggravated matter requires a mandatory court appearance by the person charged. That means the arraignment is not a date you can handle by mail or send someone else to. Plan the day around it. Bring the citation, the release paperwork if you signed any, photo identification and the suspension notice. Jeff goes over what will be said before you walk in, so that a plea of not guilty, if that is the plan, is entered with a clear head and not as a reaction.

An arraignment is short. It is where you enter a plea and where later dates are set by the presiding judge. It is not a trial.

Part of Plainfield is in Kendall County

Plainfield is in Will County for the most part, and a part of it lies in Kendall County. A DUI arrest on the Kendall side is heard in Yorkville and not in Joliet. Check the court on your citation first. Jeff will tell you whether he can take a case heard in Kendall County. More on the town is at Areas We Serve: Plainfield.

Reviewed by Jeff McCarthy, Attorney, Inspired Law Group, 136 E 9th St, Lockport, IL 60441.