The Illinois Supreme Court has divided all traffic violations (other than parking) into two categories. The difference is simply that some violations can be settled without a court appearance while the remainder require attendance at court.

The police officer issuing the ticket will designate on the ticket whether or not a court appearance is required. Your ticket will read in one of the following ways:

• You must mail or no court appearance is required
• You must appear or court appearance is required

The distinction between which violations require a court appearance and which do not is found in Supreme Court Rule 551.

For example, persons must appear in court if charged with the following:

• a Class A or Class B misdemeanor
• any violation where the minimum fine is greater than $95.00 (except truck overweight cases)
• any violation resulting in death or personal injury to someone other than the ticketed driver
• violation of the Child Passenger Safety Act
• driving under the influence (DUI)
• driving on a suspended or revoked license
• speeding 40 mph or more in excess of the limit
• drag racing
• reckless driving
• leaving the scene of a property damage accident
• speeding in a construction zone
• operating an uninsured motor vehicle
• fleeing or attempting to elude the police
• driving a commercial vehicle while license is suspended, revoked or driver has been placed out of service