Read your Traffic Citation carefully to determine if you can pay the ticket without going to Court.
If you are charged with a violation that does not require a Court Appearance (Supreme Court Rule 529a) you may pay such violation by mail or in person at the Clerk’s office or online at Judici Welcome Page or Courtmoney.com
Certain minor violations may be paid to the Circuit Court Clerk without going to Court.
All drivers must appear in court, if court supervision is requested by the defendant. Defendants under 18 requesting court supervision must appear with a parent or guardian.
Some violations cannot be paid and you must appear in court, namely the following offenses:
- All driver’s must appear in court, if court supervision is requested by the defendant. Defendants under 18 requesting court supervision must appear with a parent or guardian.
- Tickets marked COURT APPEARANCE REQUIRED;
- Speeding violations in excess of 35 MPH over the posted speed limit;
- Driver’s license or driver’s permit violations;
- Passing a stopped school bus or speeding in a posted work construction zone or speeding in a school zone;
- All violations which are a Class A or B misdemeanor;
- All violations for which an appearance is required by Supreme Court Rule 551.
If you Fail to Appear
Notice of Consent for Entry of Judgment (Conviction)
If a driver’s license, cash bail, bail bond certificate or individual bond was posted or if you were released on Notice to Appear or Promise to Comply and you were charged with any offense which does not require a court appearance. YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT: In the event you fail to appear in Court or answer the charges on the date set for your court appearance, or any date to which the case has been continued, or you do not submit a written plea of guilty to the Clerk at least four (4) court days before the scheduled court date, you hereby consent to the entry of a judgment of conviction against you in the amount of the applicable fine, penalties and costs. The cash bail or other security deposited will be used for the fine, penalties and costs. If you are an Illinois Driver and you fail to pay in full any judgment imposed, a notice will be sent to the Illinois Secretary of State and your driver’s license will not be renewed, re-issued or reclassified until full payment, including statutory interest, is paid to the Fulton County Circuit Court Clerk.
Bond Information
The type of bond that you have posted is marked on the front side of the ticket in the “BOND” section. The result of your failure to appear or to pay this ticket is determined by the BOND TYPE identified below and whether your ticket is marked “COURT APPEARANCE REQUIRED” or if you receive a notice from the Circuit Court Clerk that “THIS IS A MUST APPEAR VIOLATION.”
Types of Bonds
Full Cash Bond
- No Court Appearance Required: A Judgment [Conviction] may be entered against you for the fine, penalties and costs as provided in the “Notice of Consent for Entry of Judgment [Conviction]”.
- Court Appearance Required: A Judgment [Conviction] may be entered against you for the fine, penalties and costs as provided in the “Notice of Consent for Entry of Judgment [Conviction]”, OR a Judgment [Conviction] may be entered for the FULL amount of the bond, and/or the Court may issue a warrant for your arrest. Any cash deposited will be applied toward the judgment.
- 10% Cash Bond A Judgment [Conviction] may be entered for the FULL amount of the bond and/or the Court may issue a warrant for your arrest. Any cash deposited will be applied toward the judgment.
- Illinois Driver’s License
- A Judgment [Conviction] may be entered against you for the fine, penalties and costs as provided in the “Notice of Consent for Entry of Judgment [Conviction]”, OR your driving privileges may be suspended as a result of the conviction entered and/or the Court may issue a warrant for your arrest.
Bond Card
- No Court Appearance Required: A Judgment [Conviction] may be entered against you for the fine, penalties and costs as provided in the “Notice of Consent for Entry of Judgment [Conviction]”. Your issuing bond card company will be billed for the FULL amount of the judgment and your card will be forwarded to them upon payment.
- Court Appearance Required: A Judgment [Conviction] may be entered against you for the fine, penalties and costs as provided in the “Notice of Consent for Entry of Judgment [Conviction]”. Your issuing bond card company will be billed for the FULL amount of the judgment and your card will be forwarded to them upon payment and/or the Court may issue a warrant for your arrest.
Bond Deposited on Multiple Tickets arising from the same Incident
- [See front side for Ticket Number] Bond posted on one ticket may cover all tickets. Bond conditions remain in force until all tickets have been resolved.
- No Bond You were unable to post bond with the arresting officer at the time this ticket was issued.
- Notice to Appear A Judgment [Conviction] may be entered against you for the fine, penalties and costs as provided in the “Notice of Consent for Entry of Judgment [Conviction)”, OR the Court may issue a warrant for your arrest.
- Promise to Comply [Out of state drivers only] A notice of suspension of your driving privileges will be sent to the State that issued your driver’s license OR a Judgment [Conviction] may be entered against you for the fine, penalties and costs as provided in the “Notice of Consent for Entry of Judgment [Conviction)” and/or the Court may issue a warrant for your arrest.
- Individual or Personal Recognizance Bond A Judgment [Conviction] may be entered against you for the fine, penalties and costs as provided in the “Notice of Consent for Entry of Judgment [Conviction]”, OR a bond forfeiture judgment may be entered for the FULL amount of the bond and/or the Court may issue a warrant for your arrest. Any subsequent bond posted by you will be used to satisfy any bond forfeiture judgment entered against you.
Failure to Carry Proof of Insurance
Public Act 88-315, effective 1-1-94, permits a violator who receives a traffic citation for Failure to Carry Proof of Insurance to appear in the Office of the Circuit Court Clerk and present an original proof of insurance in effect at the time of the issuance of the citation. Other tickets issued at the same time with the Failure to Carry Proof of Insurance ticket that normally would be payable without court appearance may now be paid. If you are contesting the remaining charges, you may be required to post bond.
To Contest (Plead Not Guilty) the Charges Against You
If you wish to contest [plead not guilty] the charges that were issued to you by the police officer or if you desire time to consult with an attorney, you must appear in court at the location and on the date and time set forth in the notice mailed to you by the Circuit Court Clerk. Failure to appear will result in the entry of a Judgment [Conviction] against you.
