[R31211]

In about 2 months I'd turn 16 which means I can get my license.. but now I'm unsure if I'll be able to. Today after school I had moved my friend's car to the parking lot and got pulled over due to a wrong turn. I was sincere and all when it came down to saying what went wrong, but I still got 2 tickets and now I'm honestly really, really upset. I'm thinking I won't be able to get my license now, at least not until I'm 17 or 18. I live in Illinois. Can anyone tell me otherwise if it is that I'm wrong? I'm scared I'm going to have to pay a lot for the tickets too.
My parents know what happened and I am very disappointed in myself, as they are in me.

Thanks

PS. I didn't know what to put this under..

[J_9]

It is not necessary to post this multiple times. Once is fine.

Your question will be answered when one of our experts familiar with your question comes online. It may take a bit as we are only volunteers and take time out of our busy lives to answer questions. We are not paid employees.

[smoothy]

I'd say that's a VERY good probability. Driving without a license is a VERY serious offense...

[R31211]

Sorry I didn't think it was published because it didn't show up in my questions..

As I said, the car I drove was my friend's, but I only drove it because she had left it in the middle of a line that was formed to pick up kids at our school. She left it because she had to return back to school to get something. The line was moving up and she still was not back, so I drove it so I could just park it somewhere in the parking lot. :(

[smoothy]

There is NO acceptable excuse under the law. In fact trying to justify it will only anger the Judge. This is the real world now. Not the school, not your home.

In fact if you was driving someone bleeding to death to the Emergency room....its still not an excuse.

[odinn7]

It doesn't really matter that the car was your friends car. It doesn't matter that you were moving it out of a line. It doesn't matter that she left it to go get something. What matters is that you drove it without a license. It was not your responsibility to do so and you should have simply left it where it was. That is how it will go in traffic court if you go.

[smearcase]

And you drove a car without a driver's license in an area where schoolchildren are moving about, witnessed by all the parents in line behind your friend's car.
You showed extremely poor judgment.

This is one lawyer's opinion/summary of the infraction in Illinois. Driving Without A License Ticket Illinois | 625 ILCS 5/6-101(b) Penalty

We can't tell you here what the judge will do. If he/she gives a lot of consideration to the fact that this occurred in a school zone, they might throw the book at you. Proving that you had the skills to safely move the vehicle, such as, for example let's say that you could say I have driven on my uncle's farm for 2 years (I'm grasping at straws here). Something to give the judge a hint that this wasn't a totally reckless, hair-brained scheme that was very risky. Who taught you to drive a vehicle? Maybe that person could help you out if allowed to testify. If any of your previous driving was not in a setting where it was unquestionably legal, forget that idea.

[Wondergirl]

Do you have a learner's permit and have had some practice driving? If so, how long?

[R31211]

Yes, I have my permit. I've had it since I turned 15. In June I'll mark 9 months since I've had it. And yes, throughout my months I have had some practice. Not on a daily basis, but more than enough, honestly.

[Wondergirl]

Yes, I have my permit. I've had it since I turned 15. In June I'll mark 9 months since I've had it. And yes, throughout my months I have had some practice. Not on a daily basis, but more than enough, honestly.

I'm in IL. Someone with a learner's permit must always have a licensed driver in the car when driving. I agree that you had no business moving the car. Your friend was wrong to leave the car in a moving line.