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1. Will supervision keep the ticket off my driving record?

No, supervision only keeps the conviction off your record. If you take supervision your driving record will indicate supervision, but the ticket will still be on your record. If you are under the age of 21 and the ticket will be your 2nd conviction if you take supervision instead of the conviction your license should not get suspended. If you are over 21 and the ticket will be your 3rd conviction in a year taking the supervision should keep your license from getting suspended.

2. How long does a ticket stay on my record?

Traffic tickets generally stay on a person’s driving record for 4 to 5 years.

3. Do you take payments by phone?

No, our office does not accept payment by phone. You may send a check or money order in the mail. You may also pay in the office with a check, money order, cash, or credit/debit card. You can also pay online at CitePayUSA. Note: if you pay with a check and it is returned there is a $25 return check fee.

4. If I received a no insurance ticket, can I provide proof that I have insurance before my court date?

Yes, but the proof of insurance needs to be provided to the State's Attorney's Office, you can contact them by calling 815-284-5245. If you received two tickets and one is a no insurance and you provided proof of insurance before your court date, and the State Attorney's Office dismisses the no insurance ticket, you can pay the other ticket as long as that ticket by it's self would be a no court appearance required without having to go to court.

5. How do I plead not guilty?

To plead not guilty please fill out the back top portion of the blue copy of your ticket. Make sure you fill the top part out completely and mark if you want a trial by the Judge (Bench Trial) or a trial by a Jury (Jury Trial).

6. Am I eligible for court supervision and how much does it cost?

As long as you have not had supervision in the last 12 months, are over the age of 18, and do not have a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) you are eligible for the traffic safety program through Rock Valley College. If you are over the age of 21 you can take the traffic safety program online. To take the traffic school in person it is $55 and to take it online it is $75.

7. What happens if I am under the age of 18 and want court supervision on a "no court appearance required" ticket?

If you are under the age of 18 you have to appear in court in order to get court supervision. To get a court date to appear to request court supervision, please call our office at 815-284-5234 to set up a court date. Note: do not appear on the day that is shown on your ticket - it is only a date to have it paid by, not a court date. You must call our office to get a court date.

8. What happens if I miss my court date?

No Court Appearance Required Ticket

If you have not paid your ticket by the date indicated on your ticket you are in default, however, we do give a 10 day grace period after that date before we send what is called a Failure to Comply Notice. If you receive this notice it will give you another date to have it paid by or we can notify the Secretary of State of your non-compliance.

Court Appearance Required Ticket

If you fail to appear for a court appearance required ticket multiple things could happen. A warrant for your arrest could issue, a default judgment could be entered, or if a bond was posted a bond forfeiture notice could be issued.

9. Is my driver's license valid?

In order to know if your license is valid, you need to call the Secretary of State's Office at 217-785-8619.

10. I posted my license as bond, how do I get it back?

In order to get your license back, your case needs to be closed. If you posted as a bond on a no court appearance required ticket, you will receive it back the day you pay your ticket. If you pay your ticket through the mail it will be mailed back to you. If you post your license on a court appearance required ticket then you will get it back at the end of your case. Note: Fines and costs have to be paid in order for your driver's license to be returned to you.

11. Do I have to appear in court?

If your ticket is marked "court appearance required," you must appear in court. If it is marked "no court appearance required," you do not appear, your ticket is due by the date written on the ticket.

12. How much are court costs?

Court costs are determined by state statue and are charged accordingly. Court costs can be affected by different things. We will not be able to tell you how much you owe until you go to court and we receive the paperwork from the courtroom. Usually, if you take the fine amount times it by 3 you will get a general idea of what your court cost might be. This is not a guarantee of what your cost will be, just a rough estimate.

13. What if I have a Commercial Driver's License (CDL), want court supervision, and my ticket is marked "no court appearance required"?

If you are a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) holder and sign up for the traffic school for supervision the Secretary of State's Office will not recognize the supervision and a conviction will enter on your record. If you want supervision please contact the Traffic Department so we can set up a court date so you can speak with the Secretary of State's Office about supervision. Please do not show up on the date your ticket indicates and expect to go to court. It is just a date to have it paid by. Please contact our office so we can set a date for you.