A traffic ticket in Illinois (assuming you don’t successfully contest the ticket) normally leads to fines and points being assigned to the person’s driving record. However, eligible motorists may be able to keep a traffic conviction of their record by completing a traffic school course.
The tables below list the fines, points, and other consequences for some of the more common traffic violations in Illinois. However, the penalties a person faces for a traffic ticket can vary depending on the circumstances of the case. For example, penalties are sometimes more severe for violations in school and construction zones. And violations that result in the death of another person, could lead to reckless homicide charges and quite serious consequences.
What Are the Fines, Points, & Jail Time for Illinois Speeding Tickets?
Penalties for speeding tickets in Illinois depend on the driver's speed in relation to the speed limit.
Illinois's Basic and Absolute Speed Limits
Illinois has two types of speed limits: basic and absolute. The basic speed limit prohibits driving faster than is reasonable and proper given the current driving conditions. Absolute limits are simply maximum speeds (typically, posted) that drivers are prohibited from exceeding. (625 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. 5/11-601 (2025).)
Penalties for Speeding Violations in Illinois
| Type of Violation | Fines | Jail | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 to 20 miles per hour over the limit |
$164 (generally) |
None |
5 to 20 |
|
21 to 25 miles per hour over the limit |
$164 (generally) |
None |
20 |
|
26 to 34 miles per hour over the limit |
$75 to $1,500 (Class B misdemeanor) |
Up to 6 months |
50 |
|
35 or more miles per hour over the limit |
$75 to $2,500 (Class A misdemeanor) |
Up to 1 year |
50 |
(625 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. 5/11-601.5 (2025); 705 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. 135/15-60 (2025).)
What Are the Fines & Points for Stop Sign and Stop Light Tickets in Illinois?
Penalties are the same for stop sign and stop light tickets in Illinois, except that red light camera tickets carry lower fines.
Illinois's Stop Sign and Traffic Signal Rules
At a stop sign or stop light, motorists must come to a complete stop before the nearest of a marked stop line, entering the crosswalk, or entering the intersection itself. In Illinois, making a right turn at a red light is permitted provided there’s no sign at the intersection explicitly prohibiting it. (625 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. 5/11-306 (2025); 625 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. 5/11-904 (2025).)
Penalties for Stop Sign and Red Light Violations in Illinois
| Type of Violation | Fines | Points |
|---|---|---|
|
Stop light |
$164 (generally) |
20 |
|
Stop sign |
$164 (generally) |
20 |
|
$100 |
20 |
(625 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. 5/11-208.6 (2025); 705 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. 135/15-60 (2025)
What Are the Fines, Points, and Jail Time for Illinois’s Distracted Driving Violations?
In Illinois, distracted driving penalties depend on many factors, including the driver's age, the driver's record, and whether the offense resulted in an accident.
Illinois's Texting and Cell Phone Rules for Drivers
Illinois’s distracted driving laws prohibit texting (and other electronic device use) while driving for all motorists and talking on a cell phone while operating a vehicle for motorists who are under the age of 19. “Aggravated” offenses are those involving serious injuries to or the death of another person. (625 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. 5/12-610.1 (2025); 625 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. 5/12-610.2 (2025).)
Illinois's Distracted Driving Penalties
| Violation | Fines | Jail | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Underage cell phone use (first and second) |
$164 (generally) |
None |
10 |
|
Underage cell phone use (third or subsequent) |
$75 to $1,500 (Class C misdemeanor) |
Up to 30 days |
10 |
|
Texting and Electronic Device Use (first) |
Maximum $75 |
None |
None |
|
Texting and Electronic Device Use (second |
Maximum $100 |
None |
20 |
|
Texting and Electronic Device Use (third) |
Maximum $125 |
None |
20 |
|
Aggravated offenses |
$75 to $2,500 (Class A misdemeanor) |
Up to 1 year |
30 |
|
Aggravated offenses involving death |
Maximum $25,000 (Class 4 felony) |
1 to 3 years |
Depends on circumstances |
(705 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. 135/15-60 (2025).)