Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 551

As amended through March 29, 2024
Rule 551 - Traffic and Conservation Offenses for Which a Court Appearance is Required

A court appearance, either in person or remote, including by telephone or video conference, is required for:

(a) All alleged major traffic offenses of the Illinois Vehicle Code, as amended (625 ILCS 5/1100et seq.).
(b) All alleged violations of the following specified sections:

ILCS

Description

625 ILCS 5/3-707

Operating Without Insurance

625 ILCS 5/3-708

Operating When Registration Suspended for Noninsurance

625 ILCS 5/6-101

No Valid Driver's License

625 ILCS 5/6-104

Violation of Classification

625 ILCS 5/6-113

Operating in Violation of Restricted License or Permit

625 ILCS 5/11-1414(a)

Passed School Bus-Loading or Unloading

625 ILCS 5/15-112(g)

Refusal to stop and submit vehicle and load to weighing after being directed to do so by an officer, or removal of load prior to weighing

625 ILCS 5/15-301(j)

Violation of Excess Size or Weight Permit

(c) All alleged violations of the Child Passenger Protection Act, as amended (625 ILCS 25/1et seq.).
(d) Any traffic offense that results in a crash causing the death of any person or injury to any person other than the accused.
(e) Class A conservation offenses or offenses for which civil penalties are required under section 20-35 of the Fish and Aquatic Life Code, as amended (515 ILCS 5/20-35), or section 3.5 of the Wildlife Code, as amended (520 ILCS 5/3.5).
(f) Offenses arising from multiple charges.
(g) Violation of any ordinance of any unit of local government defining offenses comparable to those specified in subparagraphs (a), (b), (c), (d), and (h) of this Rule 551.
(h) Any minor traffic offense where the statutory minimum fine is greater than $95, except those offenses involving truck violations pursuant to Rule 531(a) or similar municipal ordinances.

Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 551

Amended effective 10/7/1970; amended February 17, 1977, effective 4/1/1977, in counties other than Cook, effective 7/1/1977, in Cook County; amended September 20, 1979, effective 10/15/1979; amended December 22, 1981, effective 1/15/1982; amended April 27, 1984, effective 7/1/1984; amended March 27, 1985, effective 5/1/1985; amended June 26, 1987, effective 8/1/1987; amended June 19, 1989, effective 8/1/1989; amended December 7, 1990, effective 1/1/1991; amended June 12, 1992, effective 7/1/1992; amended May 24, 1995, effective 1/1/1996; amended March 26, 1996, effective 5/1/1996; amended 9/30/2002, effective immediately; amended August 6, 2010, effective 9/15/2010; amended Dec. 12, 2013, eff. 1/1/2014; amended March 8, 2019, eff. 7/1/2019; amended Sept. 29, 2021, eff. 10/1/2021; amended Oct. 27, 2022, eff. 1/1/2023; amended July 18, 2023, amended December 20, 2023, eff., nunc pro tunc, 9/18/2023.