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Parking Tickets and Traffic Violations
City of Evanston and City of Chicago
by Arthur Corbin (updated Spring/2016)
This document is for general information only. The laws, fines, and procedures may
change without notice.
You are encouraged to schedule an appointment with the TGS Legal Services Office
to consult with the attorney — particularly if you were cited for a traffic violation
that requires a court appearance.
Table of Contents
Parking Tickets
Overview ................................................................................................................p.2
Evanston ................................................................................................................p.3
Chicago ..................................................................................................................p.4
Traffic Violations
Overview ................................................................................................................p.5
Common Traffic Violations ..................................................................................p.6
Common Traffic Violations Requiring a Court Appearance ............................p.8
Court Locations .............................................................................................................p.9
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Parking Tickets — Overview
Parking tickets are civil violations. Civil violations are punishable by fine only. This
means that you will not be arrested and taken to jail for getting a parking ticket.
This also means you don’t have to appear in court for getting or failing to pay a
parking ticket.
Think of the parking ticket as a non-consensual financial obligation that you have to
pay (like a credit card or cellphone bill) or face late fees and collection actions.
Prompt payment of a parking ticket is to your advantage because the fine will
double quickly and collection actions may include the “booting” of your vehicle, the
impoundment of your vehicle, and the suspension of your driving privileges.
Although going to court is not required you have a right to due process. You can
therefore challenge the parking ticket by timely requesting an administrative
hearing in the jurisdiction that issued the citation.
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Parking Tickets — City of Evanston
Evanston’s Parking Ticket General Enforcement Timeline
Event
Consequence
i. Parking ticket issued:
10 days to pay or contest the ticket to avoid a late fee.
ii. Payment not made or
hearing not requested:
Notice with payment and administrative hearing information mailed
to registered owner of vehicle.
iii. Payment not made or
hearing not requested:
You are found liable by default. The ticket becomes final. 35 days to
appeal final determination in the Circuit Court of Cook County
(Skokie) or to pay ticket.
iv. Payment not made or
appeal not timely filed:
Potential referral to outside agency for collection. Past due obligation
may be reported to credit reporting agency. Possible adverse
tradeline on credit report.
v. 5 or more unpaid final
parking tickets:
Vehicle can be “booted” and impounded. Boot fee ($125), tow fee
($145), and storage fees will be assessed.
Evanston’s Common Parking Violations and Fines
Common Parking Violation
Fine
Expired Meter:
$10.00
No Parking for Street Cleaning:
$35.00
Parking Longer Than Maximum Time Allowed:
$40.00
Helpful Links for Evanston:
Pay Evanston Parking Ticket
Booted Vehicle in Evanston
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Parking Tickets — City of Chicago
Chicago’s Parking Ticket General Enforcement Timeline
Event
Consequence
i. Parking ticket issued:
7 days to pay or contest the ticket. If ticket not paid or contested
the fine doubles.
ii. Payment not made or
hearing not requested:
Notice with payment and hearing information mailed to
registered owner of vehicle. 14 days to request a hearing.
iii. Payment not made or
hearing not requested:
You are found liable by default. Notice of the final determination
is mailed. 21 days to contest the finding of default.
iv. Hearing requested but
found liable:
25 days to pay fine. 35 days to file an appeal in the Circuit Court
of Cook County.
v. Payment not made or
appeal not filed:
Potential referral to outside agency for collections. Possible
adverse tradeline on credit report.
vi. 3 or more unpaid tickets in
final determination status:
Vehicle can be “booted” and impounded 24 hours after being
booted. Boot fee ($100). Tow fee ($150). Storage fees ($20/day
for first 5 days; $35/day after 5th day).
vii. 2 or more unpaid tickets in
final determination status
for more than 1 year:
Vehicle can be “booted” and impounded 24 hours after being
booted. Boot fee ($100). Tow fee ($150). Storage fees ($20/day
for first 5 days; $35/day after 5th day).
viii. Vehicle towed to City Auto
Pound:
Vehicles not recovered within 21 days become eligible for
auction or destruction (depends on value of vehicle).
Common Parking Violations and Fines — City of Chicago
Common Violations
Fines
Expired Meter
$50.00 - $65.00
No Parking for Street Cleaning
$50.00
Residential Parking Permit
$75.00
Helpful Links — City of Chicago
Pay Chicago Parking Ticket
Contest Chicago Parking Ticket
Booted Vehicle in Chicago
Towed Vehicle in Chicago
Payment Plan Options
Locate Towed Vehicle in Chicago
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Traffic Violations — Overview
Speeding tickets and other moving violations are criminal offenses. The severity of
the offense can range from a petty offense to a misdemeanor. A court appearance
may also be required. If a court appearance is required, the law enforcement officer
will write the location, date, and time of the court hearing on the ticket.
Traffic laws can be creatures of state law, municipal ordinance, or both. The law
enforcement officer has the discretion to choose the legal scheme under which to
charge you.
Regardless of the legal scheme you are charged under, one thing is certain: the
jurisdiction that issues the citation (e.g. Evanston: Evanston Police; Chicago: Chicago
Police; suburb: suburban police; express way: Illinois State Police; etc.) will also be
the forum for any court proceedings (if required).
This means that if a court appearance is required, the court will be located inside or
near the jurisdiction that issued the citation.
Example 1: You were stopped while driving in Carbondale — a small college town in
Southern Illinois — for aggravated speeding (speeding between 26 and 34 mph) which
requires a court appearance. You will have to appear in a court that serves and is located
in or near Carbondale in Southern Illinois.
Example 2: You were driving to Rockford on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) on
your way to the Rock River Rib Fest. You were stopped by an Illinois state trooper in
McHenry County. The trooper cited you for speeding in a construction zone which
requires a court appearance. You will have to appear in a court that is located in and
serves McHenry County.
It is a good idea to be extra careful when traveling long distances on the road
because appearing in a court located far away from home may be very
inconvenient and expensive.
HINT: Pay special attention for construction zones in unfamiliar areas.
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Common Traffic Violations
NOTE: Mandatory court costs will be assessed and must be paid in addition to the
traffic fine. Court costs in the Circuit Court of Cook County are currently $214.00.
Speeding Violations
Regular Speeding (state
law) — up to 25 mph
over the speed limit:
Petty Offense.
Fine of not more than $500.00 (between $100 and $140, depending on
customs and procedures of jurisdiction).
A court appearance is required.
Excessive Speeding
(state law) — between
26 and 34 mph over
speed limit:
Class B Misdemeanor.
Fine up to $1,500.00 and up to 6 months in jail (judge has discretion, fine
amount depends on factual circumstances and customs and procedures of
jurisdiction).
A court appearance is required. The court may also require you to
retain an attorney due to the possibility of jail time.
Aggravated Speeding
(state law) — 35 + mph
over speed limit:
Class A Misdemeanor.
Fine up to $2,000.00 and up to 12 months in jail (judge has discretion, fine
amount depends on factual circumstances and customs and procedures of
jurisdiction).
A court appearance is required. The court may also require you to
retain an attorney due to possibility of jail time.
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Speeding in a
Construction Zone or
Maintenance Zone
(state law):
Severity
Penalty
First Offense: Petty Offense
A court appearance is required.
$250.00 minimum fine + $125.00
safety charge = $375.00.
Second Offense: Petty Offense
A court appearance is required.
$750.00 minimum fine + $255.00
safety charge = $1,000.00.
Driver’s License Suspended for 90 Days: If the second violation within 2
years of the previous violation, and the second violation and one prior
violation occurred when workers were present in the construction zone
or the maintenance zone.
Speeding (Chicago
ordinance):
Severity
Fine
First Offense
Not less than $200.00 and not
more than $300.00. May also be
subject to community service.
Second Offense
Not less than $300.00 and not
more than $500.00. May also be
subject to community service.
Third and Each Subsequent
Offense within a 3-year Period
Not less than $500.00 and not
more than $1,000.00. May also
be subject to community
service.
Driving Without a Valid Driver’s License
Driving Without a Valid
Driver’s License (state
law):
Petty Offense up to Class A Misdemeanor.
(severity of offense depends on reason for not have a valid license)
Fine up to $2,000.00 and up to 12 months in jail.
A court appearance is required. The court may also require you to
retain an attorney.
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Driving Uninsured Vehicle or Without Proof of Insurance
Driving Uninsured
Vehicle:
$100.00 fine and supervision if you produce evidence that vehicle is
insured as of the date of the court appearance.
A court appearance is required.
Driving Without Proof
of Insurance:
Same as driving an uninsured vehicle (see above).
Other Common Moving Violations
Failure to Obey Traffic
Signal (Chicago
ordinance):
Petty offense with a fine of not less than $90.00 and not more than
$300.00. In practice, the fine for the first offense is $100.00 plus mandatory
court costs of $214.00, for a total of $314.00.
Common Traffic Violations for Which a Court Appearance Is Required
All Misdemeanor Violations
Operating Without Insurance
No Valid Driver’s License
Any Traffic Offense With a Minimum Fine Greater Than $95.00
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Court Locations: Cook & Surrounding Counties
Court Facilities for Jurisdictions in Cook County
FIRST MUNICIPAL DISTRICT
SECOND MUNICIPAL DISTRICT
Richard J. Daley Center
50 West Washington Street
Chicago, IL 60602
Second Municipal District Courthouse
5600 Old Orchard Road
Skokie, IL 60077
Serves the City of Chicago
Serves Suburban Cities and Villages:
The First Municipal District is divided into
multiple branches located throughout the
Chicago. Proceedings for felony and
misdemeanor traffic violations may take place
in one of these branch courts.
Deerfield, Des Plaines, Evanston, Glencoe,
Glenview, Golf, Kenilworth, Lincolnwood,
Morton Grove, Niles, Northbrook, Northfield,
Park Ridge, Skokie, Wilmette, Winnetka, Cook
County Sheriff, Cook County Forest Preserve,
Illinois State Police Districts 03 and 15, and
Union Pacific Railroad.
Court Facilities for Jurisdictions Located in the Counties Surrounding Cook
County ( the “Collar Counties”)
DuPage County
Will County
Lake County
McHenry County
Kane County