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Illinois drivers can take advantage of the Driver Safety Program (DSP). In this program, drivers in the state will learn about improving traffic skills, avoiding traffic violations, and becoming a safer driver. Often, Illinois drivers use the Driver Safety Program as an alternative to sentencing for minor traffic violations.
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If you are charged with a traffic violation in Illinois, you may be eligible to participate in the Driver Safety Program by taking a defensive driving course. In most counties, drivers who have been charged with minor traffic violations are eligible to have their citation dismissed by attending defensive driving or traffic safety school.
If you enroll in and complete a defensive driving course with a traffic safety school, you can avoid a conviction on your driving record, and your insurance rates will not increase as a result of the violation. Check with the Illinois Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
For most Illinois drivers who have received a traffic citation, defensive driving is an option for avoiding a conviction. However, several exceptions may make a driver ineligible to use this benefit. Reasons, why you may not be able to take a defensive driving course in Illinois, include:
In some cases, drivers who are not eligible for the basic defensive driving course will be contacted and offered the opportunity to attend an advanced course.
Before you enroll in a defensive driving course, you should verify your eligibility to do so with the court. If you are ineligible and choose to attend traffic safety school anyway, you may receive a conviction on your driving record.
Illinois drivers who want to dismiss a traffic ticket with defensive driving must request permission to do so with the court. You will plead guilty, register for the driver safety program, and pay a non-refundable fee to the court. You will be required to pay an additional fee for driving more than 20 miles per hour over the speed limit in some courts. You must make your request early, as your application form and payment must be received no later than five business days before your scheduled court date.
You will be required to fill out an application for court supervision and driver safety school. On this application, you’ll need to select a class location area. Many Illinois courts offer an online defensive driving option. If you prefer to take your defensive driving course online, you’ll need to indicate that you wish to enroll in an Internet defensive driving course on the application.
Once you’ve completed your application and payment, you will be mailed a class assignment. If you are unable to attend the assigned class, you will need to reschedule. However, note that you will only be allowed to reschedule once at no charge in many courts, and if you do not call to reschedule at least 24 hours before the assigned date, you may be assessed a fee.
Drivers who miss the class or are too late, you must reschedule and pay a fee to avoid having the conviction reported. If you ultimately do not attend class, there is no additional fee for most courts; however, you will have a conviction reported on your driving record.