Traffic tickets in Illinois: points, fines and traffic school
How Illinois treats a traffic ticket: whether the points stick, whether a course can clear it, what the fine really costs, and which court or agency actually handles it. Prefer your own city? Jump to the 1 Illinois city guides below.
1Do points matter in Illinois?
Illinois reports convictions to the Secretary of State and adds points to your record; supervision means no conviction - which is the whole point of asking for it.2Can you keep it off your record?
Illinois uses court supervision rather than traffic school: if you are eligible, the case is diverted on conditions and, if you complete them, is dismissed without a conviction. A Traffic Safety School course is often one of the conditions - Cook County's school runs in class and online, in English, Spanish and Polish.Compare how traffic school works in every state we cover →
3What will it cost?
A fine in Illinois is set by statute or by the court named on your citation — never by the officer who wrote it. Here is where the real number comes from:
Illinois sets fines by statute. For the violations that can be settled without a court appearance, the fine plus costs is listed on the back of the ticket. Chicago camera and parking tickets are city administrative tickets, not court tickets.4Who handles your ticket in Illinois?
Your ticket goes to the Circuit Court of the county where you were cited. In Chicago camera and parking tickets are city administrative tickets handled by the city, not the court — a completely different process.Check your licence status and driving record with Illinois Secretary of State - driver services.
Pick your city in Illinois
Same six questions on every page, in the same order: where to pay, whether to fight it, traffic school, and when a lawyer is worth it.
Common questions
What is court supervision in Illinois?
It is Illinois's alternative to traffic school. If you are eligible, the case is diverted on conditions and, when you complete them, is dismissed without a conviction. A Traffic Safety School course is often one of the conditions.
Do points go on my record in Illinois?
A conviction is reported to the Secretary of State and adds points. Supervision means no conviction — which is the whole point of asking for it.
How much is an Illinois traffic ticket?
Fines are set by statute. For violations that can be settled without a court appearance, the fine plus costs is listed on the back of the ticket. Chicago camera and parking tickets are city tickets with their own schedule.
Informational only, not legal advice. Rules, deadlines and fine schedules change — always confirm the detail with the court or agency named on your ticket. Last checked 2026-10-12.