625 ILCS 5/11-601 & 11-601.5 · 2026 STATUTORY SPEEDING MATRIX
Comprehensive legal reference for Illinois speeding citations. Review exact fine schedules, excessive speeding criminal misdemeanor brackets, mandatory in-person court appearance triggers under Supreme Court Rule 551, construction zone surcharges, and Secretary of State license point penalties.
| Speed Over Limit | Classification | Base Fine / Bail | Jail Exposure | Rule 551 Court | Illinois Statute |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 – 20 MPH | Petty Offense | $164.00 preset bail | None | No (Payable) | 625 ILCS 5/11-601(b) |
| 21 – 25 MPH | Petty Offense | $164.00 preset bail | None | No (Payable) | 625 ILCS 5/11-601(b) |
| 26 – 34 MPH | Class B Misd | Up to $1,500.00 | Up to 6 Months Jail | Mandatory Court | 625 ILCS 5/11-601.5(a) |
| 35+ MPH | Class A Misd | Up to $2,500.00 | Up to 364 Days Jail | Mandatory Court | 625 ILCS 5/11-601.5(b) |
| School Zone | Petty / Enhanced | $150.00 min (1st) / $300 (2nd) | None (unless ≥26 over) | Mandatory Court | 625 ILCS 5/11-605 |
| Construction Zone | Petty / Enhanced | $250.00 min (1st) / $750 (2nd) | 90-day suspension on 2nd | Mandatory Court | 625 ILCS 5/11-605.1 |
In Illinois, driving 26 mph or more over the posted speed limit is not a simple traffic infraction—it is a criminal misdemeanor offense under 625 ILCS 5/11-601.5(a).
Requires personal court appearance before a judge. You cannot pay this ticket by mail or online.
Driving 35 mph or more over the posted limit constitutes aggravated speeding under 625 ILCS 5/11-601.5(b), the highest misdemeanor classification in Illinois law.
Carries 50 Secretary of State points and creates a permanent criminal record if convicted without court supervision.
The Illinois Secretary of State assesses demerit points against your driving record for every moving violation conviction. Accumulating 3 convictions within 12 months triggers a mandatory driver's license suspension.
Yes, if you were clocked between 1 and 25 mph over the posted speed limit. For these petty offense violations, you can pay the preset $164 fine or request court supervision without appearing in court, provided you have not had two prior moving violation convictions in the past 12 months. However, if cited for 26 mph or more over the limit, appearance before a judge is mandatory under Supreme Court Rule 551.
Under 730 ILCS 5/5-6-1, court supervision is a deferred disposition. If granted supervision and you complete the supervision term (typically 90 to 120 days) without committing another moving violation, the citation is dismissed without entering a conviction on your public driving record. Drivers under 21 years of age must complete a driver improvement course to receive supervision and are limited to two supervision grants in their lifetime.
Under 625 ILCS 5/11-605.1, speeding in an active construction zone carries a mandatory minimum fine of $250 plus a $125 statutory surcharge for a first offense. A second offense carries a mandatory minimum fine of $750 and results in an automatic 90-day driver's license suspension. Court supervision is strictly prohibited for construction zone speeding violations.
No. Under Knowles v. Iowa (1998) and Illinois constitutional law, a routine traffic stop for speeding does not authorize a full vehicle search. An officer may only conduct a search if they establish independent probable cause under the Carroll Doctrine, obtain voluntary consent, or conduct a protective sweep for weapons under Michigan v. Long if specific, articulable reasonable suspicion exists that the driver is dangerous and may access a weapon.
PatrolSync provides field officers with our proprietary roadside Speeding Fine Calculator, interactive Rule 551 court mandate tables, thermal citation slip generator, and 4th Amendment search seizure guidelines.