Illinois Traffic Tickets & Court Supervision (2026)

Illinois drivers cited for most petty traffic offenses can avoid a conviction by pleading guilty and requesting court supervision, the dismissal mechanism authorized under 730 ILCS 5/5-6-1. Under court supervision, the judge typically requires payment of fines, court costs, and, when the court orders it, completion of a traffic safety school within a supervision period (commonly 4 months in Cook County, which uses the National Safety Council's 4-hour course). If you complete the conditions, the case is dismissed without a conviction: no points are added to your driving record and the ticket does not count toward the three-in-12-months threshold that triggers a Secretary of State suspension. Eligibility is limited to twice within any 12-month period, and supervision is unavailable for CDL holders, school-zone speeding, and second-offense driving without insurance. Last checked August 2026.

The True Cost of a Ticket in Illinois

Illinois drivers pay a $120 fine and about $2,604 in three-year insurance surcharges for a 10-mph-over ticket, roughly $2,724 all-in. The fine is about 4% of the total bill. Illinois handles ticket relief through court supervision (730 ILCS 5/5-6-1), a court-discretionary program. Drivers who successfully complete supervision, which often includes a traffic safety course when the court orders one, keep the ticket off the public driving record without a conviction. That is the outcome that prevents most of the insurance surcharge. Court supervision is not automatic. Illinois drivers need to request it at their court date, and the specific judge decides eligibility. Where a course is required, tuition runs about $25 to $50. Handled well, an Illinois supervision plus any required course completion can prevent most of the $2,600 surcharge. Last checked August 2026.