Crime & Traffic
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Failing to take care of a traffic citation is one of the most common reasons for a suspended license. Your suspension will remain in effect until you go to court, respond to the citation, and your driver record is updated. To reinstate your license, you must resolve any outstanding tickets. Since the process can take up to two months, it’s important to begin as soon as possible.
Note: Starting in 2025, if you miss a court date, the court won’t automatically issue a failure-to-appear order or suspend your driver’s license. Clerks will send more reminders about your new court date and might also contact you by text, email, or phone. If you miss court again, don’t pay or take care of the issue, or can’t prove you had a good reason for missing court, the court may issue a conviction . The court can then notify the Secretary of State, which could lead to a license suspension.
Contact the courthouse where your matter is pending and make arrangements to take care of your tickets. This could mean paying any fines associated with those tickets or it could mean attending a hearing at the courthouse.
Not sure where to go?
Contact the Traffic Violations Section of the Secretary of State at (217) 785-8619. They will give you information on how to resolve your traffic tickets based on your IL driving license number.
In Cook county, access the Clerk of the Circuit Court Online Traffic Ticket Payment System here. To search for your traffic ticket, you must enter both: Your Ticket Number; Your name and date of birth; OR Your driver's license number.
After the tickets are resolved you will get a receipt from the court. Upon the completion of the transaction, you can print a confirmation page for your records. Additional confirmations can be sent to your e-mail address if you ask for them.
Send the receipt showing the tickets were taken care of along with a $70 reinstatement fee. This fee can be paid on the Secretary of State’s website. You will need to enter the driver's license number without the dashes. Note: If you owe multiple fees, only one can be paid for at a time using the e-Pay system. You will receive an e-mail receipt after each payment is confirmed.
