Illinois Traffic Tickets
An Illinois moving-violation citation has three possible paths: pay the fine and accept the conviction, request court supervision to keep the violation off your public record, or contest the ticket in court. Each route has different implications for your point total, your insurance, and how the case ends up on your driving abstract.
Reading your ticket
Every Illinois traffic citation lists:
- The court date — usually 30-60 days after issuance.
- The court address (almost always the Circuit Court of the county where the violation occurred).
- The Illinois Vehicle Code section cited (625 ILCS 5/11-something).
- Whether the violation requires a court appearance or allows a "pay by mail" option.
Some tickets are marked "court appearance required" — typically for speeding 26+ mph over, no insurance, driving on suspended license, or any DUI-adjacent offense. These cannot be settled by paying the bond amount.
Paying the ticket
For pay-by-mail tickets, you can satisfy the citation by mailing the bond amount listed on the ticket to the Circuit Court clerk before the court date. Most counties also accept payment online through their court portal — ePay, ePay Illinois, or county-specific systems. Paying the bond is treated as a guilty plea, which means the conviction goes on your driving abstract, points are assessed, and your insurance company will see the violation at renewal.
Court supervision
Court supervision is the Illinois equivalent of "deferred adjudication" — the court holds the case in abeyance for 3-6 months. If the driver completes the supervision period (no new violations, payment of fine, sometimes a defensive driving course), the case is dismissed and does not appear on the public driving abstract. Limits:
- Adults can receive court supervision for one moving violation per 12 months.
- Drivers under 21 are limited to two court-supervision dispositions in a lifetime.
- CDL holders cannot receive court supervision while operating a commercial vehicle.
- Court supervision is not available for DUI, reckless driving, drag racing, or speeding 26+ mph over.
You request court supervision at the courthouse on the court date or by mail with a written request. Most courts grant supervision on a first offense without resistance. The fine is similar to the bond amount, plus a court supervision surcharge of $25-$60.
Contesting the ticket
You can contest an Illinois traffic ticket by appearing on the court date and entering a "not guilty" plea. The court schedules a trial date 30-60 days later. At trial, the issuing officer testifies; the defendant may cross-examine and present their own evidence. Trials typically last 15-30 minutes. Winning means the case is dismissed; losing means a conviction at the same fine amount as the original bond, plus court costs.
Common fines
| Violation | Typical bond |
|---|---|
| Speeding 1-10 over | $120 |
| Speeding 11-20 over | $140 |
| Speeding 21-25 over | $164 |
| Speeding 26+ over (Class B misdemeanor) | Court appearance required |
| Stop sign / red light | $120 |
| Improper lane usage | $120 |
| Texting while driving | $75 first offense, $250 third+ |
| Failure to yield to emergency vehicle (Scott's Law) | $250 minimum |
| Driving without insurance | $501 minimum |
Camera tickets (red light, automated speed)
Chicago and several Illinois suburbs operate automated red-light and speed cameras. These citations are administrative — they don't carry points and don't appear on your driving abstract. However, accumulating 5 or more unpaid camera tickets blocks state registration renewal and can lead to a vehicle boot or tow. Camera tickets in Chicago start at $35-$100 and double after 25 days unpaid.
Out-of-state tickets
Illinois shares conviction data with most states under the Driver License Compact and the Non-Resident Violator Compact. An unpaid out-of-state ticket can result in an Illinois license suspension. Pay or contest an out-of-state ticket through the issuing court, not through the Illinois SOS.
For broader comparisons, see our driving safety hub.