Paying or Contesting a Traffic Ticket in Illinois
How to pay, contest or reduce a traffic ticket in Illinois, and what happens if you ignore it.
Short answer: Minor traffic offenses that do not require a court appearance can be resolved by a written or electronic guilty plea and payment to the circuit clerk; Illinois Supreme Court Rules 529–531; Illinois Courts, Plead and Pay Traffic Tickets (e-Guilty)
| Paying or fighting a ticket | Minor traffic offenses that do not require a court appearance can be resolved by a written or electronic guilty plea and payment to the circuit clerk; many counties offer online 'e-Guilty' plea-and-pay programs under Supreme Court standards. Tickets that require a court appearance, and anyone who wants to contest the charge, are handled in traffic court in the county where the ticket was issued. Deadlines and options vary by county; check the circuit clerk's website or the ticket. |
|---|---|
| Paying or looking up a ticket online | Many counties let drivers resolve minor traffic and conservation offenses that do not require a court appearance through an Electronic Plea of Guilty (e-Guilty) program run by the county's chief circuit judge and circuit clerk; tickets requiring a court appearance are not eligible. Payments and pleas go to the circuit clerk of the county where the ticket was issued; the Illinois Courts website lists every county's circuit clerk with address and phone. Clerk directory: https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/courts/circuit-court/circuit-court-clerks/ |
| Traffic school | Courts can sentence eligible traffic offenders to court supervision, which in participating counties typically involves completing a traffic safety program. Supervision is not available for a moving violation if the driver received court supervision twice in the preceding 12 months, and is restricted for DUI when the driver has a prior DUI conviction or supervision. Local court rules set the program details and deadlines; ask the circuit clerk in the county where the ticket was issued. Source: 730 ILCS 5/5-6-1 |
| License suspension | The Secretary of State may suspend or revoke for three or more point-assigned convictions in 12 months (see point system) and for other grounds in 625 ILCS 5/6-206, and must revoke after a DUI conviction. A statutory summary suspension follows a DUI arrest with a failed or refused test. Restricted driving permits may be issued in some cases to relieve undue hardship. |
Where to get help in Illinois
More Illinois traffic tickets & dui
- Reinstating a Driver's License in Illinois
- DUI Laws in Illinois
- How Driver Points Work in Illinois
- All Illinois traffic tickets & dui rules
FAQ
How do you pay or contest a traffic ticket in Illinois?
Minor traffic offenses that do not require a court appearance can be resolved by a written or electronic guilty plea and payment to the circuit clerk; many counties offer online 'e-Guilty' plea-and-pay programs under Supreme Court standards. Tickets that require a court appearance, and anyone who wants to contest the charge, are handled in traffic court in the county where the ticket was issued.
How do I pay or look up a traffic ticket online in Illinois?
Many counties let drivers resolve minor traffic and conservation offenses that do not require a court appearance through an Electronic Plea of Guilty (e-Guilty) program run by the county's chief circuit judge and circuit clerk; tickets requiring a court appearance are not eligible. Payments and pleas go to the circuit clerk of the county where the ticket was issued; the Illinois Courts website lists every county's circuit clerk with address and phone.
Can traffic school remove a ticket or points in Illinois?
Courts can sentence eligible traffic offenders to court supervision, which in participating counties typically involves completing a traffic safety program. Supervision is not available for a moving violation if the driver received court supervision twice in the preceding 12 months, and is restricted for DUI when the driver has a prior DUI conviction or supervision.
What gets your license suspended in Illinois?
The Secretary of State may suspend or revoke for three or more point-assigned convictions in 12 months (see point system) and for other grounds in 625 ILCS 5/6-206, and must revoke after a DUI conviction. A statutory summary suspension follows a DUI arrest with a failed or refused test. Restricted driving permits may be issued in some cases to relieve undue hardship.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.